Quest
A Visual Interface to a Future Modeling Database
Aaron Barsky
The Database
● Database contains results from future modelling
● Each query returns 300 metrics about a possible future
● Users are non-technical● Will typically be used for 1 session
Usage Scenarios
● Examine a single query in detail● Compare and contrast possible futures
Strengths
● Attractive. Engaging.● Custom painted – doesn't look like a Java
application● Constant input on screen links query
parameters to results
Weaknesses
● Text takes up a lot of space regardless of screen resolution
● Hack, rotated drilldown, to view all details labels
● Output scales well, but input doesn't past 10 or so scenarios
Data Quality
● Critical blunder!● Aggregations are meaningless● No common scale● No common notion of good vs. bad
Version 2
● Categories only used to pick drill downs● When sketching screen shots, count rows of
text● More room for input widget● Fade lines based on age. Reinforce lines
with hover (interest) or click.● Think about scrolling from the start● Keep it beautiful
