1

Design Consolidation: Integration Issues

• Combine Tree and Pivot table interaction– Allow users to quickly access statically formatted data charts and graphs

– Allow users to manipulate and design free-form charts and graphs

• Browser and Builder support different interaction types– Browser is quick, analytical, and passive

– Builder is task-directed, exploratory, and active

• Modality is dangerous– Mistakes happen more easily

– Often difficult to remember functionality (can I do X in this mode?)

– Unclear mental models of how software functions

2

Design Consolidation: Pro / Cons

Positive Aspects Weaknesses

Additional tab at the bottom of the screen

• Tabs represent graph types• Metrics in stable location• Can lock functionality for experts

• Action of clicking on variables has different effects

• Dragging seems less intuitive

Separate screens or interface

• Separate program avoid modes• Interfaces can be tailored

specifically to unique functionality

• Metrics repeated in two locations with different functionality

Two modes: one for Browsing and one for Building

• Tailor functionality to specific interface

• All of the functionality exists in one application

• Same metrics have different interactions in different modes

• Modes can negatively impact a user’s mental system model

3

Design Consolidation: The Design

• Browser functionality

4

Design Consolidation: The Design

Search box for metrics

Menus

Metrics “Browser Mode”

• Browser functionality

• Search through the metrics using arrow keys

• Search bar helps with finding particular metrics

• Menus give users further options

5

Design Consolidation: The Design

Select Chart TypeRadio buttons

Years to CompareCheck boxes

Add DivisionsCheck boxes

• Browser and Builder functionality

• Option controls at left give further control– Chart-type radio buttons

– Display years

– Divisions to include

• Includes toggle functionality to automatically select-all (and unselect-all) in a given box

6

Design Consolidation: The Design

Search box for metrics

Menus

Metrics “Browser Mode”

Metrics “Builder Mode”

• Key differences between Browser and Builder functionality

7

Design Consolidation: The Design

• Builder functionality

8

Design Consolidation: The Design

Mode ToggleBrowser vs. Builder

Drag and DropActive areas

• Builder functionality

• Mode selected at top

• Yellow areas to drag metrics and time descriptions

• Gray area for updating graph