VIS Full Papers

ManyFold: A Design Exploration of Data Visualization on Foldable Mobile Devices

Julian Baader (TUD Dresden University of Technology), Ricardo Langner (TUD Dresden University of Technology), Can Liu (City University of Hong Kong), Raimund Dachselt (TUD Dresden University of Technology)

foldable devicesmobile devicesfolding phonemobile data visualizationmultiple views

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Presentation

Session
This feels amazingly real!
Time
Friday, Nov 13, 08:00 – 08:12 (US/Eastern) · session 08:00 – 09:30
Room
Hall America north
Presenting from
Paris
Top of the first page of the paper “ManyFold: A Design Exploration of Data Visualization on Foldable Mobile Devices”.

Abstract

With this work, we explore the unique potential of data visualization on novel foldable mobile devices (foldables). Even though foldables are already commercially available, there is limited knowledge of how to leverage their distinct characteristics for visualization. This gap will only grow as their form factors become increasingly diverse. To address this, we use a two-step approach. First, we present a device-centered design space, structured around physical and usage properties of foldable devices. Second, we introduce a conceptual framework that investigates visualization on foldables from four complementary perspectives: More Displays – distributing multiple views to leverage additional display space; More Shapes – mapping visualizations to spatial fold states; More Interactions – coupling visualization tasks and folding interactions; and More States – enabling responsive visualization through folding. We complement the design space and conceptual framework with a low-fidelity ideation workshop and the subsequent prototyping of interactive artifacts. We reflect on the results and lessons learned from our exploratory, design-driven process and discuss opportunities and challenges, including the gap between our proposed concepts and commercially available foldable devices. By providing conceptual foundations and illustrating the potential of foldables, we hope to inspire and inform the development of future visualization applications for this evolving class of devices.

For Practitioners

As a conceptual paper, this work primarily targets a research audience. That said, visualization designers and practitioners building for foldable devices may find our design space and four perspectives useful as a vocabulary and source of design inspiration in early-stage concept exploration.