ManyFold: A Design Exploration of Data Visualization on Foldable Mobile Devices
2026-08-03 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction
AI summaryⓘ
The authors study how new foldable mobile devices can change the way we look at and interact with data visualizations. They first create a guide based on the physical features and how people use foldable devices. Then, they propose a framework focusing on four ideas: using multiple screens, changing visualization shapes as the device folds, linking tasks to folding actions, and making visuals adapt when folding. They tested these ideas with workshops and prototypes, sharing what they learned and the challenges ahead for using foldables with data visualization.
data visualizationfoldable devicesinteraction designdevice form factormulti-displayresponsive visualizationconceptual frameworkprototypinguser-centered designideation workshop
Authors
Julian Baader, Ricardo Langner, Can Liu, Raimund Dachselt
Abstract
With this work, we explore the unique potential of data visualization on novel foldable mobile devices (foldables). Even though foldables are already commercially available, there is limited knowledge of how to leverage their distinct characteristics for visualization. This gap will only grow as their form factors become increasingly diverse. To address this, we use a two-step approach. First, we present a device-centered design space, structured around physical and usage properties of foldable devices. Second, we introduce a conceptual framework that investigates visualization on foldables from four complementary perspectives: More Displays - distributing multiple views to leverage additional display space; More Shapes - mapping visualizations to spatial fold states; More Interactions - coupling visualization tasks and folding interactions; and More States - enabling responsive visualization through folding. We complement the design space and conceptual framework with a low-fidelity ideation workshop and the subsequent prototyping of interactive artifacts. We reflect on the results and lessons learned from our exploratory, design-driven process and discuss opportunities and challenges, including the gap between our proposed concepts and commercially available foldable devices. By providing conceptual foundations and illustrating the potential of foldables, we hope to inspire and inform the development of future visualization applications for this evolving class of devices.