Position Paper: Potential Areas of Bias in Visualization-as-Input Systems
Input Visualization Workshop at IEEE VIS 2025
teaser
Fig. 1. Examples of possible scaffolding elements (purple), visual structures such as titles, axes, and grid lines that frame the parameters and context for the user, and anchor points (orange), salient features that draw attention and serve as reference markers for interpretation, such as the length of the highest bar (A), the difference in bar lengths (B), recurring values (C), clusters (D), the overall direction of the data (E), or noticeable changes (F).
Abstract
Visualizations are typically seen as tools for interpreting and analyzing data, yet in visualization-as-input systems, where users enter information directly into a visual interface, the structure of the visualization may actively shape the data input by the user. This paper argues that visual aspects such as Scaffolding Elements (e.g., axes, ranges, and labels) and Anchor Points (e.g., visualized data) influence what users perceive as appropriate, complete, and accurate input. I outline a high level research agenda for the community to empirically study how these structural aspects guide user input. By reframing visualization-as-input as a dynamic way to elicit data, I highlight the need for design strategies that mitigate bias and promote more authentic and representative user data.
Materials