Dynamic Queries

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Dynamic Queries presented by Bhaskar Chatterjee

• Visual Alternative to SQL for Querying databases
• Depending on data types and the values decides
  the input controls for the search
• Examples are Buttons, Ratio Buttons, Simple
  sliders and Range Sliders etc
• Two papers deals with the rationale for dynamic
  queries and also go over two Applications Home
  Finder, Film Finder

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Dynamic Queries

• Constantly need to update queries as users adjust
  sliders or select buttons
• Visual representation of query
• Visual representation of results
• Rapid and incremental control of query
• Immediate and continuous feedback

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Advantages

• Users can fly through data by adjusting sliders
• Novice formulating query at command line leads
  to errors in syntax and understanding
• Experts interpretation of results can be
  easier-air traffic controllers, demographers,
  statisticians

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Examples Geographic applications
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Response of 18 Subjects using HomeFinder
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Example Cancer Rates in US

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Example (Education Application)
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Alphanumeric tabular display directory display
in UNIX

• This lets users explore UNIX directory by size
  and age
• Three versions developed
• Highlighting matches with color
• Highlighting matches with asterisk
• Displaying only the matching lines and hiding the
  rest

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Disadvantages observed

• The dynamic query is poorly matched with the
  current hardware and software systems
• Current database tools cannot satisfy the
  requirements for rapid searches
• Application specific programming is required to
  take advantage of the dynamic query methods.
• Standardized input output software are required
  to integrate to existing system
• Visually handicapped find it more difficult

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Research Directions

• Database and display algorithms
• To handle rapid display updates
• Special data structures kept in rapid storage can
  handle rapid algorithms
• Data organized in buckets, for example 1 to 50000
  can be organized in 100 buckets (each having 500
  data points)
• Use of parallel hardware and algorithms, data
  compression to store large amounts of data

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Research (Contd.)

• User interface design
• People should be able to grasp the content of the
  picture
• Questions
• How to allow user to use Boolean combination of
  slider settings
• Choose among highlighting among color, points of
  light etc.
• Allow varying degrees of intensity, large
  points/zooming

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Other Research Issues

• Display Issues
• What color, size and shape to use ?
• How to represent overlapping data on a map?
• Input Issues
• Widget design is a central issue
• Limits and display of Current Values, number of
  boxes
• Multidimensional input ( currently they are
  clumsy) research is in 3D mouse 6 degree of
  freedom.

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Examples of 2-Dimensional input
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Visual Information Seeking Tight coupling with
dynamic queries and Starfield Display

• Dynamic Queries Filter query parameters rapidly
  adjusted with slider, buttons etc.
• Starfield Display result sets are continuously
  available and support viewing of hundreds or
  thousands of items
• Tight Coupling query components are interrelated
  in ways that preserve display invariants and
  support progressive refinement.

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Tight Coupling

• Tight coupling reveals the software state and
  constrains the user from making erroneous actions
• For example if a user wants films before 1935
  then only certain actors and directors are
  further selectable.
• Tight coupling aspect every output of query is a
  candidate for input of a another query
• Helps in reducing screen clutter

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Tight Coupling (Contd.)

• Other Aspects
• Progressive refinement of query
• Details on demand idea of hypermedia
• Click on the data points to get further
  information

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FilmFinder

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FilmFinder (Contd.)
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FilmFinder (Contd.)
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FilmFinder (Contd.)