A Comparative Study of Table Sized Physicalization and Digital Visualization

TL;DR

This study compares large physical and digital visualizations of data, finding that physical models improve initial understanding, long-term memory, and usability, informing future visualization choices in education and public displays.

Contribution

It provides the first empirical comparison of physical versus digital large-scale visualizations, highlighting physicalization's advantages in comprehension and retention.

Findings

Physicalization enhances initial understanding.

Physical models improve long-term memory retention.

User feedback favors physical visualization.

Abstract

Data physicalization is gaining popularity in public and educational contexts due to its potential to make abstract data more tangible and understandable. Despite its growing use, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of how large-size physical visualizations compare to their digital counterparts in terms of user comprehension and memory retention. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by comparing the effectiveness of visualizing school building history data on large digital screens versus large physical models. Our experimental approach involved 32 participants who were exposed to one of the visualization mediums. We assessed their user experience and immediate understanding of the content, measured through tests after exposure, and evaluated memory retention with follow-up tests seven days later. The results revealed notable differences between the two forms of visualization: physicalization not only facilitated better initial comprehension but also significantly enhanced long-term memory retention. Furthermore, user feedback on usability was also higher on physicalization. These findings underscore the substantial impact of physicalization in improving information comprehension and retention. This study contributes crucial insights into future visualization media selection in educational and public settings.