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Physical Containers as Framing Conditions for Visualization in Augmented Reality

Jiyeon Bae, Mingyu An, Jeongin Park, Seokweon Jung, Kiroong Choe, Jinwook Seo

Abstract

Exploratory data analysis (EDA) is often hindered by cold-start friction; when users lack specific analytic goals, they struggle to configure complex visualization parameters. While existing visualization tools mostly rely on explicit user input to frame data, we propose leveraging the physical environment as an implicit framing mechanism. We introduce a conceptual framework that uses the geometric and spatial properties of physical containers in Augmented Reality (AR) to guide data interpretation. We characterize how container attributes, such as number of faces, size, proportion, and shape, give rise to distinct perceptual tendencies. For example, a circular container may encourage cyclic interpretation, while juxtaposed planar faces may facilitate comparative analysis. By treating physical forms as environmental framing conditions, we show how AR can orient a user's attention and structure their exploration without requiring manual encoding or prescribing fixed conclusions. We demonstrate this framework through a series of AR design examples illustrating how container morphology foregrounds cyclic, comparative, and sequential analytic patterns.

Physical Containers as Framing Conditions for Visualization in Augmented Reality

Abstract

Exploratory data analysis (EDA) is often hindered by cold-start friction; when users lack specific analytic goals, they struggle to configure complex visualization parameters. While existing visualization tools mostly rely on explicit user input to frame data, we propose leveraging the physical environment as an implicit framing mechanism. We introduce a conceptual framework that uses the geometric and spatial properties of physical containers in Augmented Reality (AR) to guide data interpretation. We characterize how container attributes, such as number of faces, size, proportion, and shape, give rise to distinct perceptual tendencies. For example, a circular container may encourage cyclic interpretation, while juxtaposed planar faces may facilitate comparative analysis. By treating physical forms as environmental framing conditions, we show how AR can orient a user's attention and structure their exploration without requiring manual encoding or prescribing fixed conclusions. We demonstrate this framework through a series of AR design examples illustrating how container morphology foregrounds cyclic, comparative, and sequential analytic patterns.
Paper Structure (13 sections, 2 figures)

This paper contains 13 sections, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background and Related Work
  3. Visualization Interpretation Beyond Guided Tasks
  4. Spatial Extensions of Visualization
  5. Containers as Perceptual Framing Conditions
  6. Physical Properties as Given Conditions
  7. From Conditions to Framing Tendencies
  8. Design Examples
  9. Single-Face · Landscape Rectangle · Overlaid Lines
  10. Multi-Face · Planar · Juxtaposed Line Charts
  11. Single-Face · Circle · Polar Line Chart
  12. Multi-Face · Volumetric · Helical Time-Series
  13. Limitations and Future Work

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Container size can influence data granularity across spatial, temporal, and categorical examples: larger containers afford finer detail, while smaller containers encourage aggregation.
  • Figure 2: Four AR design examples embedding the monthly movie release counts over three decades into different physical containers. Each activates a different perceptual framing tendency.