Abstract
We present a systematic review on tasks, interactions, and visualization widgets (refer to tangible entities that are used to accomplish data exploration tasks through specific interactions) in the context of tangible data exploration. Tangible widgets have been shown to reduce cognitive load, enable more natural interactions, and support the completion of complex data exploration tasks. Yet, the field lacks a structured understanding of how task types, interaction methods, and widget designs are coordinated, limiting the ability to identify recurring design patterns and opportunities for innovation. To address this gap, we conduct a systematic review to analyze existing work and characterize the current design of data exploration tasks, interactions, and tangible visualization widgets. We next reflect based on our findings and propose a research agenda to inform the development of a future widget design toolkit for tangible data exploration. Our systematic review and supplemental materials are available at physicalviswidget.github.io and osf.io/vjw5e/.
Tasks describe in which environment the data exploration tasks have been conducted (Task environment), what the task content is (Task content), and in which representation the task entity has been perceived by users (Task entity's representation).
User Interactions describe how users operate tangible entities to complete a data exploration task (Manipulation method), what interactions users perform (Interaction type), and where interactions take place (Where the interaction happens).
Visualization Widgets refer to tangible entities that are used to accomplish data exploration tasks through specific interactions. Here we discuss how big a widget is (Size), how many widgets are used (Quantity), the shape in which the widget acts (Functional shape), and the material properties of the widget (Material properties).
Relative Position indicates the Accessible distance between user and task entity, the Accessible distance between user and visualization widget(s), and the Spatial integration between task entity and visualization widget(s).