A transitory interface component for the in-context visualization and adjustment of a value

Some agent-based systems depend on eliciting ratings from the user. However, the user?s willingness to provide ratings is limited due to requisite demands of attention and effort. From a human-centered view, we redefine providing ratings as expressing interest. We develop a new interface component for parameter setting, the In-Context Slider, which reduces physical effort and demand on attention by using fluid mouse gestures and in-context interaction. We hypothesize that such an interface should make interest expression easier for the user. We evaluated the In-Context Slider as an interest expression component compared with a more typical interface. Participants performed faster with the In-Context Slider. They found it easier to use and more natural for expressing interest. We then integrated the In-Context Slider in the agent-based system, combinFormation. We compared the In-Context Slider with combinFormation?s previous interest expression interface. Of the participants that effectively used both interfaces, most expressed more interest with the In-Context Slider. Participants? experience reports described the In-Context Slider as easier to use while developing collections to answer open-ended information discovery questions. This research is relevant for many applications in which users provide ratings, such as recommender systems, as well as for others in which values need to be adjusted on many objects that are concurrently displayed.