User Requirements Analysis on Ontology Visualization

The variety of forms and applications of ontologies reflect the different needs and tasks for users. Visualizations can support users in their work with ontologies. The numbers of different visualization methods and tools also point to the varied kinds of ontologies and contexts in which they are used. However, research on users' attitudes and their expectations on such ontology visualizations is rare. Therefore, we conducted interviews and an online survey to find out more about users' needs. The paper discusses the design and the result of the survey. In particular, it shows several requirements that were discovered and can lay the foundation for further visualization methods.