Overview of visual studies
Information-triage at work: three comparative studies
I have created a framework of comparative studies for this project. Organizing my studies this way (instead of designing one large, comprehensive system) has allowed me to explore several different avenues of information-triage, to speculate multiple types of interactions and interface elements, and to freely compare how the different systems are working (or not). I believe the experimental and undefined nature of information-triage is well suited to this type of open investigation.
After completing my research and initial speculations, I concluded that there is an information-triage gradient: different degrees to which a system could and should take over for a user. How much balance should the interface find between controlling the content and decisions for the user, and providing flexibility and agency? When is user choice more important than system efficiency? What are the degrees between ultimate system control and ultimate user control? In response to this finding, I chose to create three studies that illustrate different possible points along this spectrum—one near each end, and one closer to the center.
