Pad : A Zooming Graphical Interface for Exploring Alternate Interface Physics

1
Pad A Zooming Graphical Interface for
Exploring Alternate Interface Physics

• Benjamin B. Bederson and James D. Hollan

Presented by Daniel Schulman
2
What is Pad?

• A system for building interfaces based on 2.5-D
  zooming.
• Implemented in Tcl/Tk and C.
• Semantic Zooming more info is shown when
  zoomed in.

3
Motivation

• View large amounts of information w/out having to
  hide some.
• Provides structure to data, to complement
  filter approaches.
• Avoid limitations of metaphors. (dead
  metaphors).

4
Application - Hypertext

• When linked data is clicked, it is displayed in
  the same space, but smaller and to the side.
• Visual representation of browsing history.

5
Application Directory Browser

• Files are shown inside directories.
• More details (files in directories, file sizes,
  etc.) become visible as you zoom in.

6
Critique

• Introduced lots of important ideas that are now
  major research topics.
• Proof-of-concept for zooming interfaces.
• No direct attempt to evaluate success of
  approach.
• Need to discuss pros and cons of physics-based
  design more.

7
Physics-Based Design

• More abstract metaphor.
• Less real-world limitations.
• Scales to larger information sets.

• Some have poor spatial reasoning.
• Manipulation is more complicated.
• Easily discoverable?
• Lack of affordances.

8
Future Work

• Real user evaluation.
• Different kinds of physics.
• Manipulation of objects, not just viewing.
• Affordances for alternate physics.
• Navigation of large virtual spaces.