INVISQUE as a tool for intelligence analysis: the construction of explanatory narratives

Rooney, Chris, Attfield, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9374-2481, Wong, B. L. William ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3363-0741 and Choudhury, Sharmin (Tinni) (2014) INVISQUE as a tool for intelligence analysis: the construction of explanatory narratives. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 30 (9) . pp. 703-717. ISSN 1044-7318 [Article] (doi:10.1080/10447318.2014.905422)

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Abstract

We report an exploratory user-study in which a group of civil servants with experience of, or involvement in, intelligence analysis used the tool INVISQUE to address a problem using the 2011 VAST dataset. INVISQUE uses a visual metaphor that combines searching, clustering and sorting of document surrogates with free-form manipulation on an infinite canvas. We were interested in exposing the behaviours and related cognitive strategies that users would employ to better understand how this and similar environments might better support intelligence type work. Our results include the observation that the search and spatial features of the system supported participants in establishing, elaborating and systematically evaluating explanatory narratives that accounted for the data. Also, visual persistence at the interface allowed them to keep track of searches and to re-find documents when their importance became apparent. We conclude with reflections on our findings and propose a set of guidelines for developing systems that support sensemaking.

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