Fluid Zoomable User Interface and Its Application in a Temporal and Hierarchical Information Visualization Infrastructure

Traditional Zoomable User Interfaces (ZUIs) either use single-scale, focus+context or map- projection-based magnification algorithms to zoom objects on a screen. When a ZUI uses single-scale magnification to reveal details of objects that are conceptual in their nature, like elements of a calendar, the difference between the aspect ratio of the screen and the scalable objects can result in constrained magnification, leading to limited interaction benefits (such as orientation and navigation, usability of the interface model and interaction mechanism across computing platforms). I designed a novel type of Zoomable User Interface, named Fluid Zoomable User Interface (FZUI), to address this limitation. The FZUI specifies dual-scale factors to automatically adjust objects to a screen and aspect ratio.I demonstrate the concept through several use cases such as a calendar, an Integrated Development Environment and a temporal and hierarchical information visualization infrastructure. Moreover, I introduce two prototype tools that serve as proof of existence of the introduced theoretical constructs.I performed three evaluations. First, I introduce a comparative evaluation framework that deconstructs the reasons why FZUIs can be interacted in a more consistent way on a wide variety of screen sizes and aspect ratios. The comparative evaluation framework also introduces the limitations of the Fluid Zoomable User Interface, such as that FZUI is ultimately constrained to represent information that is conceptual in its nature. Second, technical evaluations are introduced to confirm scalable technical feasibility of the theoretical and practical contributions. Third, I conducted a mixed-method survey with 32 participants who directly interacted with one of the use cases. A significant, 68.75% preferred FZUI to conventional user interfaces. Study results also suggest that FZUI provided hierarchical support, better understanding of task fit in the broader context of a project, efficient orientation and navigation, and a widely applicable interaction mechanism across computing platforms.The contributions of this research establish an indirect, conceptual connection between responsive design and Zoomable User Interfaces. This insight might open up a new era in physics-inspired user interfaces and interaction mechanisms, where ZUIs would be used for in a wide range of domains and computing environments