Timeline Navigators: User Interface Design Patterns for Time
Date
2023-10-19
Authors
Rubio, Eduardo
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Sage Journals
Abstract
While a wide range of software applications allow users to manipulate time-based data, or time series, they all work with user interfaces designed with specific affordances related to time. This article investigates how interfaces help users capture, manipulate, and understand time series data. By exploring how user interface elements of time-based software applications address seven User Time Needs, the authors propose a set of nine different interface design patterns called timeline navigators that generalize across applications. While existing research evaluates specific time-based interface elements, the authors have not seen a framework for considering time-based interface elements and users’ corresponding underlying needs more generally across software domains. The analysis provided is intended to help designers become aware of the major practices and conventions found in timeline navigators as well as the user needs that they support.
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Comments
This is an accepted manuscript of an article published as Rubio, Eduardo, and Stephen B. Gilbert. "Timeline Navigators: User Interface Design Patterns for Time." In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, p. 21695067231192451. Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, 2023.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/21695067231192451. Copyright © 2023 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Posted with permission.