Thomas Mandl
Information Science, University of Hildesheim, Marienburger Platz 22, Germany
mandl@uni-hildesheim.de
http://www.uni-hildesheim.de

Maximilian Eibl
Social Science Information Centre
Schiffbauerdamm 19, 10117 Berlin, Germany
eibl@berlin.iz-soz.de
http://www.gesis.org
 
 

ABSTRACT

This article presents an analytical evaluation method for innovative and graphically rich displays beyond the common WIMP interfaces. This method is based on user strategies and compares different algorithms for creating  2D or 3D environments and leads to a correlation measure which can be consulted in the creation process of such environments. The results suggest, that the graphical algorithm may have more influence on the quality of maps than user strategies. Therefore, the correct choice of appropriate arithmetic algorithms  is crucial. Furthermore, the article discusses the extension of the evaluation method to 3D environments for semantic organization of homogeneous objects. By presenting this method and its results, an example for rigid and user-oriented evaluation of advanced graphical interfaces which are applied in the internet is given.

Keywords: topographic map, 2D maps, evaluation, visualization, human computer interaction