Abstract:
Event sequence data is common in many domains, ranging from electronic
medical records (EMRs) to sports events. Moreover, such sequences often
result in measurable outcomes (e.g., life or death, win or loss). Collections
of event sequences can be aggregated together to form event progression
pathways. These pathways can then be connected with outcomes to model how
alternative chains of events may lead to different results. This paper
describes the Outflow visualization technique, designed to (1) aggregate
multiple event sequences, (2) display the aggregate pathways through
different event states with timing and cardinality, (3) summarize the
pathways' corresponding outcomes, and (4) allow users to explore external
factors that correlate with specific pathway state transitions. Results from
a user study with twelve participants show that users were able to learn how
to use Outflow easily with limited training and perform a range of tasks both
accurately and rapidly.