VIS Panels: Friction in Visualization: When Should We Slow People Down?

Session chair:Katerina Batziakoudi, Anne-Flore Cabouat, Lane Harrison, Carolina Nobre, Filip Sadlo, Antonia Schlieder, Karen Schloss, Michael Wybrow

Room:America South

Time:Thursday, Nov 12 @ 10:00 - 11:30 (US/Eastern)

Website:https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8GKED

Visualization research has traditionally sought to reduce barriers between data and insight through more efficient representations, interactions, and analytical workflows. Yet reducing effort might not always be beneficial. Across areas such as uncertainty communication, sensemaking, learning, critical visualization, and human–AI interaction, researchers are increasingly examining situations in which friction can be leveraged instead: slowing users down, encouraging reflection, or introducing productive effort may improve understanding and decision-making. Although these discussions often employ different terminology, they raise a common question: when is friction beneficial in visualization? This panel brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds to discuss the role of friction in designing, evaluating, and teaching visualization. By connecting currently fragmented conversations, we aim to clarify key concepts, identify productive tensions, and explore whether friction can serve as a useful lens for future visualization research.

Presentations in this session