Using Visual Histories to Reconstruct the Mental Context of Suspended Activities.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Using Visual Histories to Reconstruct the Mental Context of Suspended Activities.
Authors: Rule, Adam (AUTHOR), Tabard, Aurélien (AUTHOR), Hollan, Jim (AUTHOR)
Source: Human-Computer Interaction. 2017, Vol. 32 Issue 5/6, p511-558. 48p.
Subjects: Sensemaking theory (Communication), Thumbnail images (Image processing), Autobiographical memory, Data visualization, Communication
Abstract: Resuming suspended activities is fundamental to knowledge work. As activities grow in complexity or fade from memory, they become increasingly difficult to cognitively resume. Motivated by the efficiency of images for cueing autobiographical memory, we conducted 2 studies of how visual histories of computer-mediated activity might aid users in restoring the mental context of suspended activities. In the first exploratory study we demonstrate that users provided a visual history consisting of small thumbnail images of their desktop can reconstruct detailed mental contexts of earlier computer work. In the second observational study we examine methods and cues that web developers, scientific writers, and graphic designers currently use to restore mental context. We find that participants from all three professions engage insituated sensemaking, reconstructing context by generating stories to explain cues in their documents with implicit meaning, such as sudden changes in writing quality or the shape of blocks of code. We identify characteristics of each activity that influence the information, artifacts, and strategies participants used to reconstruct context. We conclude that visual histories can help users reconstruct mental context but that challenges remain in designing lightweight image-based cues that help users reconstruct context for a range of activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 125437156
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Using Visual Histories to Reconstruct the Mental Context of Suspended Activities.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rule%2C+Adam%22">Rule, Adam</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tabard%2C+Aurélien%22">Tabard, Aurélien</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hollan%2C+Jim%22">Hollan, Jim</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Human-Computer+Interaction%22">Human-Computer Interaction</searchLink>. 2017, Vol. 32 Issue 5/6, p511-558. 48p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sensemaking+theory+%28Communication%29%22">Sensemaking theory (Communication)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thumbnail+images+%28Image+processing%29%22">Thumbnail images (Image processing)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autobiographical+memory%22">Autobiographical memory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+visualization%22">Data visualization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication%22">Communication</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Resuming suspended activities is fundamental to knowledge work. As activities grow in complexity or fade from memory, they become increasingly difficult to cognitively resume. Motivated by the efficiency of images for cueing autobiographical memory, we conducted 2 studies of how visual histories of computer-mediated activity might aid users in restoring the mental context of suspended activities. In the first exploratory study we demonstrate that users provided a visual history consisting of small thumbnail images of their desktop can reconstruct detailed mental contexts of earlier computer work. In the second observational study we examine methods and cues that web developers, scientific writers, and graphic designers currently use to restore mental context. We find that participants from all three professions engage insituated sensemaking, reconstructing context by generating stories to explain cues in their documents with implicit meaning, such as sudden changes in writing quality or the shape of blocks of code. We identify characteristics of each activity that influence the information, artifacts, and strategies participants used to reconstruct context. We conclude that visual histories can help users reconstruct mental context but that challenges remain in designing lightweight image-based cues that help users reconstruct context for a range of activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=125437156
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/07370024.2017.1300063
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 48
        StartPage: 511
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sensemaking theory (Communication)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thumbnail images (Image processing)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autobiographical memory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data visualization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communication
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Using Visual Histories to Reconstruct the Mental Context of Suspended Activities.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rule, Adam
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tabard, Aurélien
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hollan, Jim
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: 2017
              Type: published
              Y: 2017
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 07370024
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 32
            – Type: issue
              Value: 5/6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Human-Computer Interaction
              Type: main
ResultId 1