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Virginia Tech

DUET: Distinct but United Event-based Timelines

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Through innovations in sensors and storage, event-based data collection has increased significantly in recent years. Personal security cameras allow users to collect event data in their homes, Google Maps allows users to view places they have been throughout the day, and web browsers collect a history of the sites users visit. Despite the innovations in event-based data collection, the Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) designed for these systems have not changed for years. Many applications stick to a linear timeline to display the events, leading to large downtime gaps when sparse events occur throughout the day. However, linear timelines create a natural sense of temporal perception since users can easily tell what time of day certain events occur. Our project seeks to find a balance between the natural temporal perception that linear timelines offer and improving the usability of visualizing event-based data using timelines. Through our design, users will be able to leverage the simple temporal perception that a linear timeline provides and avoid unnecessary searching to locate specific events. By seamlessly integrating a linear timeline with density visualizations and a timeline of events, we aim to allow users to search and view events easily. To evaluate our interface, we conducted two usability studies, first with specialists who view security camera information often and then with all individuals. Our findings inform the design of future event-based timeline visualizations.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Computer Science & Applications
Department dc:contributor.department
Computer Science and#38; Applications
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2025

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Luu, Andy
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lee, Sang Won
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Chen, Yan
  • Lim, Sol Ie

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:42375
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/123895

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Luu, Andy. DUET: Distinct but United Event-based Timelines. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2025. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/123895