Applying feature integration theory to glyph-based information visualization

Feature integration theory, the classic visual attention model, provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing visual communication. This paper proposes a set of glyphs named RoseShape that aim at improving users´ visual information search in visualization. RoseShapes integrate rich and easy-to-catch attributes for mapping data variables, enabling automatic and unconscious information processing in the pre-attentive stage. A case study illustrating the levels of education funding in the United States in 2008 validates the feasibility of this approach.