Lane Harrison, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 6:30pm
At IBM Research Cambridge, 1 Rogers Street, Cambridge, MA

Abstract

Data visualization is making strides in delivering new tools, techniques, and systems to people engaged in data analysis and communication. Providing more options can lead to a paradox of choice, however — how can people creating data visualizations understand the tradeoffs between available designs? One promising approach towards addressing this problem is to better understand and quantify the role of the human in data visualization. In this talk I’ll share some of our recent results ranging from quantifying low-level perceptual processes in visualization, to modeling higher level concepts like engagement and aesthetics. Re-centering visualization on the human not only aids people in designing data visualizations, but also leads to new opportunities for next-generation visualization tools, techniques, and systems.

Bio

Lane Harrison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His research focuses on developing quantitative models of perceptual and cognitive processes in visualization and using them to improve visualization design and behavior. Prior to joining WPI, Lane was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Computer Science at Tufts University. He obtained his Bachelor’s and PhD degrees in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, supported by a DHS Visual Analytics Fellowship for his work on designing visualization tools for cyber security data. In 2015 he served as general chair for the IEEE Visualization for Cyber Security (VizSec) Symposium, held in conjunction with the IEEE VIS Conference.