Human Performance Evaluation of a Metaphor Graphic Display for Respiratory Data

W. G. Cole; J. G. Stewart

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1635042

Methods of Information in Medicine, Table of Contents

Methods Inf Med 1994; 33(04): 390-396
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1635042

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

Human Performance Evaluation of a Metaphor Graphic Display for Respiratory Data

W. G. Cole

¹Department of Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA

,

J. G. Stewart

²Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco CA, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Abstract:

Metaphor graphics are data displays designed to look like corresponding variables in the real world, but in a non-literal sense of “look like”. Evaluation of the impact of these graphics on human problem solving has twice been carried out, but with conflicting results. The present experiment attempted to clarify the discrepancies between these findings by using a complex task in which expert subjects interpreted respiratory data. The metaphor graphic display led to interpretations twice as fast as a tabular (flowsheet) format, suggesting that conflict between earlier studies is due either to differences in training or to differences in goodness of metaphor, Findings to date indicate that metaphor graphics work with complex as well as simple data sets, pattern detection as well as single number reporting tasks, and with expert as well as novice subjects.

Keywords

Computer Graphics - Data Display - Medical Monitoring - Icons

Full Text

References

REFERENCES
1 Cohen IB. Florence Nightingale. Sci Amer 1984; 250: 128-37.
2 Rushmer RF. Accentuate the positive. JAMA 1968; 206: 836-8.
3 Jarvenpaa SL, Dickson GW. Graphics and managerial decision making: Research based guidelines. Comm of the ACM 1988; 31: 764-74.
4 DeSanctis G. Computer graphics as decision aids: Directions for research. Decision Science 1984; 15: 463-87.
5 Ives B. Graphical user interfaces for business information systems. MIS Quarterly Special Issue. 1982. (December): 211-24.
6 Sisson J, Schoomaker E, Ross J. Clinical decision analysis: The hazard of using additional data. JAMA 1976; 236: 1259-63.
7 Rossing R, Hatcher W. A graphic method for the evaluation of diagnostic tests. Meth Inform Med 1980; 19: 149-56.
8 Swets J, Pickett R. Evaluation of Diagnostic Systems. . New York: Academic Press; 1982
9 Greenes R. Computer aided diagnostic strategy selection. Radiol Clin N Amer 1986; 24: 105-20.
10 Cohn J, Engler P, Del Guercio L. The automated physiologic profile. Crit Care Med 1975; 03: 51-8.
11 Williams BT, Johnson RL, Chen TT. PLA-TO-based medical information system overview. In: Proceedings of the First Illinois Conference on Medical Information Systems. . Pittsburgh PA: 1977: 145-9.
12 Connelly D, Lasky L, Keller R, Moore A. Graphical representation of clinical laboratory data. In: SCAMC 80. . O’Neill J. ed. Washington DC: IEEE: Computer Society Press; 1980: 1841-8.
13 Orimo A, Wakabayashi M. Graphical output of health testing data. Med Inform 1990; 15: 141-9.
14 Cole WG. Understanding Bayesian reasoning via graphical displays. In: CHI ‘89. . Bice K, Lewis C. eds. Austin TX: Addison Wesley; 1989: 381-6.
15 Cole WG, Davidson JE. Graphic representation can lead to quick and accurate Bayesian reasoning. In: SCAMC 89. . Kingsland LC. ed. Washington, DC: IEEE Computer Society Press; 1989: 227-31.
16 Cole WG. Medical cognitive graphics. In: CHI ‘86. . Mantei M, Orbeton P. eds. New York: Assoc for Comput Mach; 1986: 91-5.
17 Cole WG. Three graphic representations to aid Bayesian reasoning. Meth Inform Med 1988; 27: 125-32.
18 Cole WG. Metaphor Graphics and Visual Analogy for Medical Data. . Tutorial paper available from the author. 1988
19 Chernoff H. The use of faces to represent points in k-dimensional space graphcially. J Am Stat Assoc 1973; 68: 361-8.
20 Elting LS, Bodey GP. Is a picture worth a thousand medical words? A randomized trial of reporting formats for medical research data. Meth Inform Med 1991; 30: 145-50.
21 Elting L, Karl C, Amos G, Bodey G. Data. displays supporting accurate medical research decisions. Abstracts of Spring Con. gress American Medical Informatics Association. . Portland: AMIA; 1992: 32.
22 Cole WG. Cognitive strain, cognitive graphics, and medical cognitive science. In: AAMS186. . San Francisco: American Association for Medical Systems and Informatics; 1986: 288-92.
23 Cole WG. Quick and accurate monitoring via metaphor graphics. In: SCAMC ‘90. Miller RA. ed. Washington DC: IEEE Computer Society Press; 1990: 425-9.
24 Cole WG, Stewart JG. Metaphor graphics to support integrated decision making with respiratory data. Int J Clin Monit Comput 1993; 10: 91-100.