While the information retrieval techniques used by web search engines have improved substantially over the years, the search results have continued to be represented in a simple list-based format. Although this list-based representation makes it easy to evaluate a single document, it does not support the users in the broader tasks of manipulating the search results, comparing documents, or finding a set of relevant documents. HotMap provides a compact visual representation of web search results at two levels of detail, and supports the interactive exploration of web search results. User studies have shown that HotMap can result in fewer low-relevance documents being considered, and generates a higher level of confidence, ease of use, and satisfaction than a Google-like interface.

Users of traditional web search engines commonly find it difficult to evaluate the results of their web searches. We suggest the use of information visualization and interactive visual manipulation as methods for improving the ability of users to evaluate the results of a web search. In this paper, we present the results of a user study that compared the search results interface provided by Google to that of two systems we have developed: HotMap and Concept Highlighter. We found that users were able to perform their searches faster with HotMap, were able to find more relevant documents with Concept Highlighter, and generally ranked these interfaces higher than Google with respect to subjective measures. When given a choice between these interfaces, participants ranked HotMap the highest, followed by Google and Concept Highlighter. These results indicate that even though the list-based representation of search results are common among search engines, visual and interactive interfaces to web search results can be more efficient, effective, and satisfying to the users.