Quest

A Visual Interface to a Future Modeling Database

Aaron Barsky

The Database

● Database contains results from future modelling

● Each query returns 300 metrics about a possible future

● Users are non-technical● Will typically be used for 1 session

Usage Scenarios

● Examine a single query in detail● Compare and contrast possible futures

Strengths

● Attractive. Engaging.● Custom painted – doesn't look like a Java

application● Constant input on screen links query

parameters to results

Weaknesses

● Text takes up a lot of space regardless of screen resolution

● Hack, rotated drilldown, to view all details labels

● Output scales well, but input doesn't past 10 or so scenarios

Data Quality

● Critical blunder!● Aggregations are meaningless● No common scale● No common notion of good vs. bad

Version 2

● Categories only used to pick drill downs● When sketching screen shots, count rows of

text● More room for input widget● Fade lines based on age. Reinforce lines

with hover (interest) or click.● Think about scrolling from the start● Keep it beautiful