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nOnTRaDiTiOnaL MaPPing
tions for the problem of disappearance are showing the animation numerous times,
stopping the animation and proceeding frame by frame, and adjusting the speed of
the animation.
A second challenge cited by Harrower is
attention. The user doesn’t know where
to look. Voice narration and sound prompts (beeps, clicks, etc.) can help direct the
reader’s attention. Flashing or moving symbols, such as flashing arrows pointing to
a location, can help, but should be used with care, because they can become annoy-
ing.
The third challenge is
complexity. “Many animated maps try to do too much
and end up saying very little” (Harrower, 2003, p. 64). Effective animated maps are
often quite generalized and focus on the most important trends or features. Instead of
complex numerical legends, categories that show high, medium, and low are easier to
understand. The colors used should also be distinct and easy to remember. Harrower
believes that animated maps are better suited for showing geographic patterns and
changes in patterns than specific rates of change.
Harrower’s final challenge is
confidence. There is some evidence that users are
less confident that they understand the information
they get from animated maps
than from static maps. This problem can be lessened by providing an introduction
to the interface before showing data. The user also needs a relatively simple interface
that he or she adapts to quickly.
