Exploring Multiview UI Layouts and Placement Strategies for Collaborative Sensemaking in Virtual Reality

Abstract: Immersive technologies expand the potential for collaborative sense-making and visual analysis via head-worn displays (HWDs), offering customizable, high-resolution perspectives of a shared visualization space. In such an immersive environment, window/view management is crucial for collaborative sense-making tasks. However, the role of document types (graphs, images) and pair dynamics in collaborative layout formation has rarely been explored. We conducted a user study with 20 participants to explore how pair of users organize multiview windows in remote immersive workspaces during tasks such as search, comparison, and classification. Findings show that users often arrange windows in a semi-circular layout for pair collaboration. Image+text documents reduce mental and temporal demand in comparison tasks, while graphs lower task load for classification. Conflicts in window selection arise mainly in complex comparisons, with frequent discussion and reorganization during difficult tasks. Based on these insights, we propose design guidelines for multiview systems that support VR collaboration and brainstorming.