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The task of managing and accessing large information spaces is a problem in large scale cognition. Enwrging technologies for 3D visualization and interactive aninla-iion offer potential solutions to this problenl, especially when the structure of the information can be visualized. We describe one of these Information Visualtzaiion techniques, called the Cone Tree, which is used for visualizing hierarchical information structures. The hi-erarchy is presented in 3D to nlaxilnize effective use of available screen space and enable visualization of the whole structure. Interactive aninlation is used (,o shift sonle of the user’s cognitive load to the human percep-tual system, KEYWORDS: User-Interface Design Issues: visual output strategies, inierjace metaphors, graphic presentations, screen layout. Analysis hlethods: analysis of contenis of particular domains. Domain Specific Designs: inforntaiion retrieval.

. The proliferation ofcomputing into the physical world promises more than the ubiquitous availability of computing infrastructure; it suggests new paradigms of interaction inspired by constant access to information and computational capabilities. For the past decade, applicationdriven research in ubicomp has pushed three interaction themes: natural interfaces, context-aware applications, and automated capture and access. To chart a course for future research in ubiquitous computing, we review the accomplishments of these efforts and point to remaining research challenges. Research in ubiquitous computing implicitly requires addressing some notion of scale; whether in the number and type of devices, the physical space of distributed computing or the number of people using a system. We posit a new area of applications research, everyday computing, focussed on scaling interaction with respect to time. Just as pushing the availability of computing away from the traditional desktop fun...

The World-Wide Web has achieved global connectivity stimulating the transition of computers from knowledge processors to knowledge sources. But the Web and its client software are seriously deficient for supporting users' interactive use of this information. This paper presents two related designs with which to evolve the Web and its clients. The first is the WebBook, a 3D interactive book of HTML pages. The WebBook allows rapid interaction with objects at a higher level of aggregation than pages. The second is the Web Forager, an application that embeds the WebBook and other objects in a hierarchical 3D workspace. Both designs are intended as exercises to play off against analytical studies of information workspaces. Keywords 3D graphics, user interfaces, information access, WorldWide Web, information workspace, workspace. INTRODUCTION Whereas personal computers used to be viewed as knowledge processors---word processors or spreadsheet calculators, for instance, they are now beco...

We report on a diary study of the activities of information workers aimed at characterizing how people interleave multiple tasks amidst interruptions. The week-long study revealed the type and complexity of activities performed, the nature of the interruptions experienced, and the difficulty of shifting among numerous tasks. We present key findings from the diary study and discuss implications of the findings. Finally, we describe promising directions in the design of software tools for task management, motivated by the findings.

Introduction Our paper presents a model for supporting group interaction in large-scale virtual worlds 1 . The model provides generic techniques for managing interactions between various objects in such environments including humans and computer artefacts. Furthermore, the model is intended to be sufficiently flexible to apply to any system where a spatial metric can be identified (i.e. a way of measuring distance and orientation). Such applications might range from the obvious example of multi-user virtual reality through conferencing systems, collaborative hypermedia and even databases and information spaces. 1 The theory described in this paper is being developed as part of the COMIC project, an ongoing European ESPRIT Basic Research Action which aims to develop theories and techniques to support the development of future large scale CSCW systems. We would like to thank our fellow comedians for their discussions and comments. This paper has been

g the course of a task. Many of these applications involve the collection, comprehension, 88 August 1995/Vol. 38, No. 8 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM Catherine C. Marshall Frank M. Shipman III Spatial Hypertext: Designing for Change ypertext, 1 in its most general sense, allows content to appear in different contexts. The immediate setting in which readers encounter a specific segment of material then changes from reading to reading or from reader to reader. Authors collect and structure materials to reflect their own understanding or in anticipation of readers' possible interests, needs, or ability to comprehend the substrate of interrelated content. 1 We use the term hypertext broadly, to cover both textual and multimedia content. Node A Node A Node D Node E Node C Node B Node A and interpretation of diverse materials

Abstract. Traditional document systems use hierarchical filing structures as the basis for organising, storing and retrieving documents. However, this structure is very limited in comparison with the rich and varied forms of document interaction and category management in everyday document use. Presto is a prototype document management system providing rich interaction with documents through meaningful, user-level document attributes, such as “Word file”, “published paper”, “shared with Jim”, “about Presto ” or “currently in progress”. Document attributes capture the multiple different roles that a single document might play, and allow users to rapidly reorganise their document space for the task at hand. They provide a basis for novel document systems design and new approaches to document management and interaction. In this article, we outline the motivations behind this approach, describe the principal components of our implementation, discuss architectural consequences, and show how these support new forms of interaction with large personal document spaces.

In this paper, we describe Kimura, an augmented office environment to support conorion multitasking practices. Previous systems, such as Rooms, limit users by constraining the interaction to the desktop monitor. In Kimura, we leverage interactive projected peripheral displays to support the perusal, manipulation and awareness of background activities. Furthermore, each activity is represented by a montage comprised of images from current and past interaction on the desktop. These montages help remind the user of past actions, and serve as a springboard for ambient context-aware reminders and notifications.

Most windowing systems follow the independent overlapping windows approach, which emerged as an answer to the needs of the 1980s' technology. Due to advances in computers and display technology, and increased information needs, modern users demand more functionality from window management systems. We proposed Elastic Windows with improved spatial layout and rapid multi-window operations as an alternative to current window management strategies for efficient personal role management [12]. In this approach, multi-window operations are achieved by issuing operations on window groups hierarchically organized in a space-filling tiled layout. This paper describes the Elastic Windows interface briefly and then presents a study comparing user performance with Elastic Windows and traditional window management techniques for 2, 6, and 12 window situations. Elastic Windows users had statistically significantly faster performance for all 6 and 12 window situations, for task environment setup, task...