Defining a software genre: timeline navigators

Abstract

<p>This research defines a widely used, but largely unrecognized genre of software. From a User Experience Design standpoint, this genre definition considers any application that helps users capture, understand, and manipulate time-series data.</p> <p>Computer user interfaces investigated within this genre help users manage time-series data. Digital interactions with time-series data range from simple presses of the play/pause button, loops to find the right information, to complex analyses necessary for greater understanding. A child may watch a movie played on a media player like Apple's iTunes. A student may compose a musical presentation with Steinberg's Cubase. Trying to determine market trends, investors may conduct a stock analysis on Charles Schwab's OptionsXpress.</p> <p>This thesis investigates applications and discovers properties shared by each application. By looking at how the interfaces in this genre are composed, this thesis establishes common practices and conventions enabling other designers to create successful user experiences.</p>