Designing a User-Centered Interactive Data-Storytelling Framework

Abstract

Big Data research, and the development of sophisticating data mining methods requires besides algorithm research, also finding better ways to convey information contained in data sources to the end-user. Through improving data visualization methods, we are able to create visual presentations of data sources allowing users to gain a deeper understanding of data. For several millennia, stories where the major medium to communicate complex messages between humans. Within this research work we attempt to converge both, storytelling and data visualization through the development of an interactive data storytelling framework. Our goal is to communicate knowledge contained in data to a general audience and utilize Australia's energy consumption data as an exemplary case for visualizing aspects as energy consumption and production. We describe the essential elements and theories contributing to this framework, and give special attention to user-centered design aspects. We identify end-user requirements, and illustrate the practical application of the overall framework through a prototype implementation.