We all know that interactive data visualization is an effective communication tool for easily conveying even complex contexts: if applied correctly, users can use them to discover hidden patterns, change perspectives and develop new ideas. But how can we create data visualizations which best assist users in their tasks? And how can we test interactive visualizations where they are actually needed?
Generating insights and findings from seemingly abstract pain data?
For the treatment of chronic pain, data about the changes of the patient’s condition, movement profiles, sleeping habits, the weather or the timing of therapy measures are observed over a long period of time, analyzed and investigated for patterns and correlations. To do this, pain therapists require an effective and efficient tool. In this context, (interactive) data visualization assists human cognition in the rapid recognition of patterns, gaps and outliers – even for large amounts of data. Therefore, the basis of my work was the search for such an interactive data visualization:
“Quiri Analyzer” was created in the third phase of the overall “Quiri” project and complements this with a user interface for medical staff for the evaluation of the data collected from individual pain patients.
How does one visualize data for pain therapy?
In this blog entry I would first like to exclude the technical requirements (what type of data is collected in what cycle for what diagnosis). A special challenge from the UX perspective, was finding a suitable prototyping tool with which the visualization of and interaction with complex amounts could be appropriately evaluated with users, also in the run-up.
I found a few approaches in my research on the topic of prototyping. From intensive paper prototyping to exclusive digital mock-ups: Unfortunately, many of these methods were only suitable for very few interactive visualizations or for very small amounts of data. From the varied repertoire of prototyping methods, I had to choose those which met my requirements:
flexible design and adjustment of large amounts of data points
ideally, a responsive design
interactivity!
functional prototype
possibility of exploratory testing with users
Another particularity in this project was a small target group which is difficult to access: Pain therapists are usually very busy people with heavy schedules. Consequently, within the evaluation session, as little as possible abstraction, but rather concrete “exploring” by means of realistic patient data was to be evaluated in order to receive valuable feedback for my case, i.e. meaningful data had to flow into a highly functional prototype in order to test my aspired filter concept.
The tools of my choice
For the visualization of the individual parameters that are relevant for the pain therapy, I first scribbled notes onto paper. Written notes on paper are a good basis for making rudimentary decisions and discussing first approaches with colleagues. I also presented the rough layout as well as the idea of the filter concept and the temporal representation of the data in this way.
Quick changes or new ideas were no problem!
