Spotfire

Spotfire is a powerful analysis tool that allows for quick comparison of variables in a dataset. Its scatter plot format is common and easily understood and its use of direct manipulation provides easy access to information. For example, the summary statistics behind each data point is available by clicking on that point. This data may be important to the user but would clutter the view if it were on the chart.

Spotfire also has an animated zooming functionality via double-sided sliders on each axis. This allows the user to focus on certain aspects of the data without becoming disoriented as they could if it were not animated.

Also, since it is likely that the user wants to compare more than two or three variables, Spotfire makes all the variables available in a drop down menu on the axes. Using the widget as a label is an interesting and effective design in this case.

The general functionality of Spotfire is simple and natural, however its power is hidden. The application has the ability to do some statistical analysis, as well as assigning certain characteristics to the data (such as ordinal vs. nominal vs. quantitative), but it is difficult to find these functions.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths:

• Visualization is easy to understand and simple, yet powerful.
• Drop down menus allow for quick changes of axes.
• Drill down to individual data points is easy and intuitive -- just click on dot all the info is displayed in the lower right pane.
• Interaction is consistent and sensible -- double ended sliders filter data in and out of view as well as zooming into the visualization.

Weaknesses:

• Choosing variable to be represented by colors in the plot is less intuitive than other aspects of the interaction.
• Only one chart type is available (scatter plot) which limits the type of data that can be explored.
• Advanced functions are difficult to find. Simple statistical analysis is available, but is hidden in the Properties > Data & Background menu. This does not seem like a logical name for where to find this function.