Hoop Diagrams: A Set Visualization Method

TL;DR

Hoop Diagrams are a novel circular set visualization technique that offers an alternative to Linear Diagrams, with comparable usability but different strengths in speed and accuracy, especially suited for certain presentation contexts.

Contribution

The paper introduces Hoop Diagrams as a new set visualization method and provides an interactive tool along with a user study comparing them to Linear Diagrams.

Findings

Users answered questions faster with Linear Diagrams.

Hoop Diagrams led to more accurate answers for some questions.

Interaction methods influenced user success and response times.

Abstract

We introduce Hoop Diagrams, a new visualization technique for set data. Hoop Diagrams are a circular visualization with hoops representing sets and sectors representing set intersections. We present an interactive tool for drawing Hoop Diagrams and describe a user study comparing them with Linear Diagrams. The results show only small differences, with users answering questions more quickly with Linear Diagrams, but answering some questions more accurately with Hoop Diagrams. Interaction data indicates that those using set order and intersection highlighting were more successful at answering questions, but those who used other interactions had a slower response. The similarity in usability suggests that the diagram type should be chosen based on the presentation method. Linear Diagrams increase in the horizontal direction with the number of intersections, leading to difficulties fitting on a screen. Hoop Diagrams always have a square aspect ratio.