A CommonSense Information Visualization for Distributed Collaborative Environments

Collaborative, analytic visualization has great potential for analyzing and integrating large, multi-source data sets, and enabling the joint application of expertise. Previous developments have focused on supporting technologies and methods such as novel displays, network architectures, and data processing schemes. As the literature points out, adoption of a systems approach that incorporates theories of reasoning, sense-making, cognition, and perception and examines other human systems integration impacts, such as the training required by visual analysts, is required to unlock the promised potential and achieve true collaboration. We will develop a prototype environment, “CommonSense,” based on these theories, that supports distributed, collaborative, visually based work. CommonSense will be comprised of a shared visualization environment integrated with a suite of communication tools. Additionally, we will examine the supporting technologies and methods through the lens of user need. By doing so, the user becomes a much-needed integrating element to work being conducted in the field. The prototype environment, together with user-centered technology studies, will enable us to demonstrate the feasibility of an extensible, comprehensive systems methodology for development of other such environments.