Exploring Data Agency and Autonomous Agents as Embodied Data Visualizations

TL;DR

This paper addresses how agency emerges in embodied data visualization and introduces Data Agency and Data-Agent Interplay as core concepts. It advocates studying these phenomena through human-robot interaction and by framing agency as a perceptual property that can be ascribed to data representations. The authors define Data Agent Interplay and Data Agency, differentiate them from existing agent-enhanced visualization, and provide a conceptual basis for multidisciplinary research across visualization and HRI. The work highlights design implications and future research questions for creating interpretable, interactive, and trusted data visuals embodied in agents.

Abstract

In the light of recent advances in embodied data visualizations, we aim to shed light on agency in the context of data visualization. To do so, we introduce Data Agency and Data-Agent Interplay as potential terms and research focus. Furthermore, we exemplify the former in the context of human-robot interaction, and identify future challenges and research questions.