Background
Visualisation design plays a crucial role in ensuring information provided in web-based critical warnings (e.g. for heat waves, flooding, air quality) can be perceived and interpreted by those most vulnerable. Different visual elements attract visual attention in different ways and if action needs to be taken quickly, it is crucial that the information is attended to and interpreted effectively and in a timely manner. Perceptual and cognitive models inform how the presented data is likely to be interpreted by individuals, which in turn can inform design considerations. With mobile interactive technology playing a key role in ensuring health and security of individuals, this project will develop such a model and use it to define a set of design considerations for visual alerts that are optimised for a broad population, including the elderly and those most vulnerable.
Novelty & Importance
This project combines vision science and visualisation with applications in urban informatics for health. A small but growing literature applies vision science methods to data visualisation problems usually in a narrow sense, for example by focusing on a single visual channel such as colour. Given the growing importance of effective communication by data visualisation across the population, this project will use real-world data, visualisation design and experimental psychology to develop an empirical evidence base for the design of health-related web-based visual alerts.
Aims & Objectives
Through case studies with real-world data, this project will design and implement web-based experiments exploring the role of attention and cognition in information processing, uncovering how such factors vary with visual design. A model of dynamic attention that can be applied across a broad population will be developed and this will be used to inform design guidelines for web-based critical warnings. We will seek to disseminate examples of effective and adaptive visualisations to relevant UK health agencies and charities.