Turning implicit into explicit: does it matter if the rainbow color schemes are continuous or discrete? A case study with 2D and 3D permafrost visualizations
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We report on a user study (n = 184) evaluating how discretization might affect reading values from permafrost visualizations with the rainbow color scheme (RC), and how it might interact with selected visualization and task types. After collecting data from 20 experts on their preferences, we compare continuous vs. discrete (banded) versions of the popular yet controversial rainbow colors. As visualizations, we include 2D vs. 3D versions, and a condition in which context is represented. We examine two kinds of lookup tasks: involving a single value, and involving a series of values. The outcomes of the study show a performance improvement with the discrete (banded) color scheme compared to continuous one on all objective and subjective metrics: response accuracy, response time and user satisfaction for all tasks except one. Discretization also moderates participants’ performance: they perform better with 2D with continuous colors, but their challenge reading in 3D diminishes with discrete colors. Elementary lookup tasks appear to be harder on average than synoptic lookup tasks. Our results suggest that strictly following the expressiveness principle is not always advisable. Also importantly, they demonstrate that careful consideration of interactions between various factors is necessary in assessing user performance for reading and analyzing (geo)visualizations. discrete (banded, classed) colors facilitate better user performance compared to continuous colors with the rainbow color scheme (RC) for reading values from permafrost visualizations;2D leads to better outcomes than 3D with continuous colors for elementary lookup tasks, but discretization eliminates the performance differences that are found between the 2D and 3D;RC can be improved by turning implicit banding to an explicit representation through a discrete color scheme design. discrete (banded, classed) colors facilitate better user performance compared to continuous colors with the rainbow color scheme (RC) for reading values from permafrost visualizations; 2D leads to better outcomes than 3D with continuous colors for elementary lookup tasks, but discretization eliminates the performance differences that are found between the 2D and 3D; RC can be improved by turning implicit banding to an explicit representation through a discrete color scheme design.
Source: Figshare
Authors: Gołębiowska, Izabela, Acqua, Luca Dall’, Noetzli, Jeannette, Çöltekin, Arzu
Language: English
Subfield: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6939831758
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