A comparison of a conventional taxonomy with a 3D visualization for use by children

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a comparison of two interfaces, one a conventional taxonomy of terms relating to Canadian history, and the other a 3D information visualization of the same terms. Both interfaces were used by volunteer students from grades five and six of an elementary school to locate terms within the taxonomy. The interfaces were evaluated according to whether the task was successfully completed, and if so, how quickly. The students' affective reactions to both interfaces were also collected through a questionnaire. Neither interface performed significantly better than the other in terms of task completion or task time; a majority of students found the conventional interface easier to use but the 3D interface more fun.