Graphical Multiscale Web Histories: A Study of PadPrints

Abstract

We have implemented a browser companion called PadPrints that dynamically builds a graphical history-map of visited web pages. PadPrints relies on Pad++, a zooming user interface (ZUI) development substrate, to display the history-map using minimal screen space. PadPrints functions in conjunction with a traditional web browser but without requiring any browser modifications. We performed two usability studies of PadPrints. The first addressed general navigation effectiveness. The second focused on history-related aspects of navigation. In tasks requiring returns to prior pages, users of PadPrints completed tasks in 61.2% of the time required by users of the same browser without PadPrints. We also observed significant decreases in the number of pages accessed when using PadPrints. Users found browsing with PadPrints more satisfying than using Netscape alone.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA440514

Entities

People

  • Benjamin B. Bederson
  • James D. Hollan
  • Jonathan I. Helfman
  • Laura T. Ring
  • Ron R. Hightower

Organizations

  • University of New Mexico

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Computers
  • Engineering
  • Hierarchies
  • Human Systems Integration
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • National Parks
  • Navigation
  • New Mexico
  • United States
  • Universities
  • User Interface
  • Visualizations
  • Web Browsers
  • World Wide Web

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space