Beyond Ambient Display: A Contextual Taxonomy of Alternative Information Display

With the recent emergence of a wide range of information displays that reach beyond the traditional graphics-based computer screen, it seems that the original definition of ambient display, and its focus on user attention and aesthetics, has become diluted. Instead, we propose a taxonomy of alternative information displays that is mainly based on context, in terms of the data it represents and the environment it is located in. The resulting model described three different categories: visualization as translation, visualization as augmentation and visualization as embodiment. This model aims support visualization designers and developers in considering the correct visualization as well as display medium. [Article copies are available for purchase from InfoSci-on-Demand.com]