The Fractal Perspective Visualization Technique for Semantic Networks

Abstract

We introduce a novel interactive visualization technique for semantic networks supporting continuous semantic graph browsing. Our visual semantic graph representation is a nested object visualization representing a view into the graph from a node's viewpoint. In this view, panning and zooming interactions drive graph traversal. We call the visualization technique Fractal Perspective, because it has approximate fractal structure (self similarity at multiple scales) and represents a kind of "perspective projection" from graph space to display space in which distant objects (in graph space) appear smaller (in a dynamic display space). This is work in progress, and this paper should be considered primarily a concept paper with a brief description of a very early prototype harnessing multi-touch interaction.