| Abstract | Information exploration often involves specifying alternative
values for some set of parameters, and comparing
the corresponding results. Some interfaces allow
only one scenario, i.e., one set of parameter values, to
be handled at a time. To compare results, the user must
therefore switch repeatedly among the scenarios of interest
and must remember details of the results seen so
far. A subjunctive-interface approach may reduce this
burden on the user. Subjunctive interfaces let users establish,
view and adjust multiple scenarios in parallel, so
that results can be compared side by side. As an illustration,
we describe two subjunctive interfaces for comparing
queries over a multi-attribute dataset. In both
designs the query results are shown side by side, but in
one case the input parameters’ available values are laid
out in menus, marked to show which queries use each
value; in the other case the parameters are controlled
by sliders, with the parameters’ values in the different
queries displayed side by side like the results. Both designs
appear to offer advantages over other exploration
interfaces, because they reduce the number of interface
actions required and the information that users must remember. |