Towards process-oriented Information Visualization for supporting users

Nowadays daily office work consists of dealing with big numbers of data and data sources, and furthermore of working with complex computer programs. In consequence many users have problems to use such programs effective and efficient. In particular beginners have significant problems to use the programs correctly due to complex functionality and interaction options. To avoid this overload of the user, the Information Visualization community has recently developed some approaches that aim to support the users. Unfortunately, these approaches are limited to one special aspect, and sometimes they are just appropriate for one special task. Thus, in this paper we introduce a process-oriented user-supporting approach. It allows selecting adequate supporting techniques in correlation to a performed process and activity to guide the user and help him to solve his task. Furthermore, we show the benefits of designing programs and applications, which implement process definitions for the existing tasks to provide the user with better process orientation. This guides the user through difficult and complex processes.