Cooperative visualization: a design case

In this design case, the design of visualization tools to support the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is described. A participatory approach to visualizing a complex computational pipeline was adopted, with the goal of exploring what benefits might be derived when groups of people visualize complex information for themselves. Direct participation in LIGO activities helped IV researchers to combine explicitly codified data from the LIGO computational pipeline with structural knowledge tacitly held by project scientists. Both sources of information were critical to producing meaningful visualizations and progressing design and research efforts. Ultimately, this design case demonstrates how cooperatively creating visualizations can enhance understanding and support group activities and goals. It is a call for more human-centeredness within the visualization literature.