Entity-based collaboration tools for intelligence analysis

Software tools that make it easier for analysts to collaborate as a natural part of their work will lead to better analysis that is in-formed by more perspectives. We are interested to know if soft-ware tools can be designed that support collaboration even as they allow analysts to find documents and organize information (in-cluding evidence, schemas, and hypotheses). We have modified the Entity Workspace system, described previously, to test such designs. We have evaluated the resulting design in both a labora-tory study and a study where it is situated with an analysis team. In both cases, effects on collaboration appear to be positive. Key aspects of the design include an evidence notebook optimized for organizing entities (rather than text characters), information struc-tures that can be collapsed and expanded, visualization of evi-dence that emphasizes events and documents (rather than empha-sizing the entity graph), and a notification system that finds enti-ties of mutual interest.

Citation

Bier, E. A.; Card, S. K.; Bodnar, J. W. Entity-based collaboration tools for intelligence analysis. IEEE Symposium on Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST '08); 2008 October 19-24; Columbus, OH. NY: IEEE; 2008; 99-106.