Information Visualization Tools Research Articles

Designing for social data analysis

The NameVoyager, a Web-based visualization of historical trends in baby naming, has proven remarkably popular. We describe design decisions behind the application and lessons learned in creating an application that makes do-it-yourself data mining popular. The prime lesson, it is hypothesized, is that an information visualization tool may be fruitfully viewed not as a tool but as part of an online social environment. In other words, to design a successful exploratory data analysis tool, one good strategy is to create a system that enables "social" data analysis. We end by discussing the design of an extension of the NameVoyager to a more complex data set, in which the principles of social data analysis played a guiding role.

Guest Editorial: InfoVis 2005

THREE papers in this issue of IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG) are expanded versions of ones presented at InfoVis 2005. These examples of the cutting edge of information visualization research showcase the diversity and depth of the field, illustrating new display techniques as well as novel application domains for information visualization systems. The three papers focus on the visualization of three different styles of data: graph-based data, time series data, and categorical data. The techniques developed and described in these papers may also be applicable to data from a variety of problem areas and the authors include both design motivations in their work as well as illustrative examples of the application of the techniques. “Drawing Directed Graphs Using Quadratic Programming,” by Tim Dwyer, Yehuda Koren, and Kim Marriott, won the InfoVis 2005 Best Paper Award. In this paper, the authors introduce a new method for drawing directed graphs that combines constraint programming techniques with a high performance force-directed placement algorithm. The technique is useful for highlighting hierarchies in directed graphs while retaining beneficial properties of force-directed placement strategies such as proximity and symmetry relations. The authors also describe experiments that show this new visualization technique can convey the structure of large digraphs better than the most widely used hierarchical graph drawing method. “Designing for Social Data Analysis,” by Martin Wattenberg and Jesse Kriss, explores how an information visualization tool may become part of a dynamic online social environment. The authors focus on the area of baby naming and provide a delightful tool called the NameVoyager, a Web-based system that allows people to explore historical trends in the names that parents give to their children. The NameVoyager garnered huge interest on the Web when it was deployed and the authors explore how the system facilitates a form of social data analysis. The paper describes design decisions and implementation issues that arose for the system and it considers some of the reasons why the system became so popular. The paper concludes by discussing the design of an extension to the system for a more complex data set. “Parallel Sets: Interactive Exploration and Visual Analysis of Categorical Data,” by Robert Kosara, Fabian Bendix, and Helwig Hauser, applies a variation of the well-known parallel coordinates visualization technique for representing categorical data. The introduced technique shows data frequencies instead of individual data points and uses boxes and parallelograms within the parallel coordinates style plot. The authors include a rich set of interaction techniques with the visualization that allow viewers to examine many different perspectives on the data. They illustrate the power of their visualization through sample analysis scenarios with two example data sets.

A Rank-by-Feature Framework for Interactive Exploration of Multidimensional Data

Interactive exploration of multidimensional data sets is challenging because: (1) it is difficult to comprehend patterns in more than three dimensions, and (2) current systems often are a patchwork of graphical and statistical methods leaving many researchers uncertain about how to explore their data in an orderly manner. We offer a set of principles and a novel rank-by-feature framework that could enable users to better understand distributions in one (1D) or two dimensions (2D), and then discover relationships, clusters, gaps, outliers, and other features. Users of our framework can view graphical presentations (histograms, boxplots, and scatterplots), and then choose a feature detection criterion to rank 1D or 2D axis-parallel projections. By combining information visualization techniques (overview, coordination, and dynamic query) with summaries and statistical methods users can systematically examine the most important 1D and 2D axis-parallel projections. We summarize our Graphics, Ranking, and Interaction for Discovery (GRID) principles as: (1) study 1D, study 2D, then find features (2) ranking guides insight, statistics confirm. We implemented the rank-by-feature framework in the Hierarchical Clustering Explorer, but the same data exploration principles could enable users to organize their discovery process so as to produce more thorough analyses and extract deeper insights in any multidimensional data application, such as spreadsheets, statistical packages, or information visualization tools.

ActiveGraph: A digital library visualization tool

ActiveGraph is an information visualization tool designed to provide users with a concise, customizable view of objects in a digital library. A set of digital library objects is represented as a data set in a two- or three-dimensional scatter plot. The data set can represent any digital library objects in any medium: books, journals, papers, images, Web resources, or even entire databases. Since ActiveGraph is intended for use in the context of digital libraries, data attributes consist for the most part of metadata fields such as title, author, date of publication, and number of citations. Data attributes are mapped to six visual attributes of the scatter plot: the X-, Y-, and Z-axes, color, size, and shape. The metadata for a selected data point are displayed in a control panel on the right-hand side of the screen. Users can edit the metadata and even add new metadata fields. Thus ActiveGraph allows users to both view and customize the contents of a library. Because of its flexibility in handling digital library objects and metadata of different types, ActiveGraph can be used in a variety of digital library applications. In this paper, we describe two: LibGraph, which is a visualization of a collaborative library, and CiteGraph, which is a visualization of citation statistics. Both applications were designed for use by scientists and engineers, for whom scatter plots are familiar and intuitive visualizations.

Dynamic Query Tools for Time Series Data Sets: Timebox Widgets for Interactive Exploration

Timeboxes are rectangular widgets that can be used in direct-manipulation graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to specify query constraints on time series data sets. Timeboxes are used to specify simultaneously two sets of constraints: given a set of N time series profiles, a timebox covering time periods x1… x2 ( x1 ≤ x2) and values y1… y2 ( y1 ≤ y2) will retrieve only those n√N that have values y1 ≤ y2 during all times x1 ≤ x ≤ x2. TimeSearcher is an information visualization tool that combines timebox queries with overview displays, query-by-example facilities, and support for queries over multiple time-varying attributes. Query manipulation tools including pattern inversion and ‘leaders & laggards’ graphical bookmarks provide additional support for interactive exploration of data sets. Extensions to the basic timebox model that provide additional expressivity include variable time timeboxes, which can be used to express queries with variability in the time interval, and angular queries, which search for ranges of differentials, rather than absolute values. Analysis of the algorithmic requirements for providing dynamic query performance for timebox queries showed that a sequential search outperformed searches based on geometric indices. Design studies helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of the query tools. Extended case studies involving the analysis of two different types of data from molecular biology experiments provided valuable feedback and validated the utility of both the timebox model and the TimeSearcher tool. Timesearcher is available at http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/timesearcher

Visualizing Flow Diagrams in WebSphere Studio Using SHriMP Views

This paper describes the integration of an information visualization tool, called SHriMP Views, with IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer Integration Edition, which was developed with Eclipse technology. Although SHriMP was originally developed for visualizing programs, it is content-independent. We have re-targeted SHriMP for visualizing flow diagrams. Flow diagrams, as supported by WebSphere Studio Application Developer Integration Edition, can be hierarchically composed, thus leveraging the key features of SHriMP that allow a user to easily navigate hierarchically composed information spaces. We discuss the differences between programs and flow diagrams, in terms of their semantics and their visual representation. We also report on the main technical challenges we faced, due to the different widget sets used by SHriMP (Swing/AWT) and Eclipse (SWT).

Procession: a three-dimensional information visualisation tool for construction project statusing

Construction project management traditionally uses two dimensional visualisation techniques to analyse project performance. In this paper, it is proposed that a more comprehensive performance measurement system might represent project progress as a three-dimensional data surface. A conceptual three-dimensional framework for the representation of non-physical construction industry data is outlined. This framework led to the development of 'Procession', a three-dimensional information visualisation software tool. Procession uses a three-dimensional data surface as an abstract representation of the described framework. The target group for Procession was social housing project clients. Field experiments were undertaken to compare the information quality and usability of Procession, with the progress reporting methods believed used by construction clients. The most important finding was that clients were significantly more able to assess project status with the developed software, than with their traditional reporting methods.

Procession: a three-dimensional information visualisation tool for construction project statusing

Construction project management traditionally uses two dimensional visualisation techniques to analyse project performance. In this paper, it is proposed that a more comprehensive performance measurement system might represent project progress as a three-dimensional data surface. A conceptual three-dimensional framework for the representation of non-physical construction industry data is outlined. This framework led to the development of 'Procession', a three-dimensional information visualisation software tool. Procession uses a three-dimensional data surface as an abstract representation of the described framework. The target group for Procession was social housing project clients. Field experiments were undertaken to compare the information quality and usability of Procession, with the progress reporting methods believed used by construction clients. The most important finding was that clients were significantly more able to assess project status with the developed software, than with their traditional reporting methods.

Inventing discovery tools: combining information visualization with data mining

The growing use of information visualization tools and data mining algorithms stems from two separate lines of research. Information visualization researchers believe in the importance of giving users an overview and insight into the data distributions, while data mining researchers believe that statistical algorithms and machine learning can be relied on to find the interesting patterns. This paper discusses two issues that influence design of discovery tools: statistical algorithms vs visual data presentation, and hypothesis testing vs exploratory data analysis. The paper claims that a combined approach could lead to novel discovery tools that preserve user control, enable more effective exploration, and promote responsibility.

Inventing Discovery Tools: Combining Information Visualization with Data Mining

The growing use of information visualization tools and data mining algorithms stems from two separate lines of research. Information visualization researchers believe in the importance of giving users an overview and insight into the data distributions, while data mining researchers believe that statistical algorithms and machine learning can be relied on to find the interesting patterns. This paper discusses two issues that influence design of discovery tools: statistical algorithms vs visual data presentation, and hypothesis testing vs exploratory data analysis. The paper claims that a combined approach could lead to novel discovery tools that preserve user control, enable more effective exploration, and promote responsibility.

DRAGON View: information visualization for annotated microarray data.

The DRAGON View information visualization tools aid in the comprehensive analysis of large-scale gene expression data that has been annotated with biologically relevant information through the generation of three types of complementary graphical outputs.

Formalizing Semantic Spaces For Information Access

An exponentially growing volume of digital information makes extraction of relevant items increasingly difficult. This article documents the adoption of information visualization tools by researchers in the disciplines of geography, computer science, and information science to facilitate exploration of very large data archives. Graphic depiction of database content (or the database “semantics”) can be based on a spatial or even a geographic metaphor. Such depictions, often called information spaces or information worlds, provide one example of “spatialization.” Various forms of spatialized views are critiqued in this article. To date, systematic approaches to the creation of spatialized views have lacked solid theoretical foundations. Three spatial frames of reference are presented to formalize and visualize semantic spatialized views: geographic space, cognitive space, and Benediktine space. Application to an example of a very large online catalog (GEOREF) highlights the underlying assumptions of the space types and demonstrates what spatial properties are preserved for each proposed approach.

Information visualisation in clinical Odontology: multidimensional analysis and interactive data exploration

In 1995, the MedView project, based on a co-operation between computing science and clinical medicine was initiated. The overall goal of the project was to develop models, methods and tools to support clinicians in their daily diagnostic work. As part of MedView, two information visualisation tools were developed and tested as solutions to the problem of visualising clinical experience derived from large amounts of clinical data. The first tool (The Cube) was based on the idea of dynamic three-dimensional (3D) parallel diagrams, an idea similar to the notion of 3D parallel co-ordinates. The Cube was developed to enhance the clinician’s ability to intelligibly analyse existing patient material and to allow for pattern recognition and statistical analysis. The second tool (SimVis) was based on a similarity assessment-based interaction model for exploring data, and was designed to help clinicians to classify and cluster clinical examination data. User interaction was supported by 3D visualisation of clusters and similarity measures. Both tools were tested on a knowledge base containing about 1500 examinations obtained from different clinics. Clinical practice indicated that the basic ideas are conceptually appealing to the involved clinicians as the tools can be used for generating and testing of hypotheses.

Acquisition and Analysis of Repeating Patterns in Time-oriented Clinical Data

(1) Creation of an expressive language for specification of temporal patterns in clinical domains, (2) Development of a graphical knowledge-acquisition tool allowing expert physicians to define meaningful domain-specific patterns, (3) Implementation of an interpreter capable of detecting such patterns in clinical databases, and (4) Evaluation of the tools in the domains of diabetes and oncology. We describe a constraint-based language, named CAPSUL, for specification of temporal patterns. We implemented a knowledge-acquisition tool and a temporal-pattern interpreter within Résumé, a larger temporal-abstraction architecture. We evaluated the knowledge-acquisition process with the help of domain experts. In collaboration with the Rush Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, we analyzed data of bone-marrow transplantation patients. The expert compared the detected patterns to a manual inspection of the data, with the help of an experimental information-visualization tool we are developing in a related project. The CAPSUL language was expressive enough during the knowledge-acquisition process to capture almost all of the patterns that the experts found useful. The patterns detected in the data by the pattern interpreter were all verified as correct. Completeness (whether all correct patterns were found) was difficult to assess, due to the size of the database. The CAPSUL language enables medical experts to express temporal patterns involving multiple levels of abstraction of clinical data. The ability to reuse both domain-patterns and abstract constraints seems highly useful. The Résumé interpreter, augmented by the CAPSUL semantics, finds the complex patterns within a clinical time-oriented database in a sound fashion.

An evaluation of space-filling information visualizations for depicting hierarchical structures

A variety of information visualization tools have been developed recently, but relatively little effort has been made to evaluate the effectiveness and utility of the tools. This article describes results from two empirical studies of two visualization tools for depicting hierarchies, in particular, computer file and directory structures. The two tools examined implement space-filling methodologies, one rectangular, the Treemap method, and one circular, the Sunburst method. Participants performed typical file/directory search and analysis tasks using the two tools. In general, performance trends favored the Sunburst tool with respect to correct task performance, particularly on initial use. Performance with Treemap tended to improve over time and use, suggesting a greater learning cost that was partially recouped over time. Each tool afforded somewhat different search strategies, which also appeared to influence performance. Finally, participants strongly preferred the Sunburst tool, citing better ability to convey structure and hierarchy.

CyberNet: A framework for managing networks using 3D metaphoric worlds

In this paper we will present CyberNet, an interactive 3D dynamic information visualization tool designed to evaluate the added value this technology brings to network management. This paper explains how 3D metaphoric worlds may help the user and points out the problems raised by the dynamic nature of the information. It focuses on the solutions that were adopted to cope with these problems. We first present some prototypes of network administration tools implemented using the CyberNet framework. Secondly we explain how information is collected and structured, and then we show how this structured information may be mapped onto 3D graphical components in order to automatically build and update metaphoric 3D worlds. The last part of the paper presents the user interaction mechanisms provided by the system.

A commentary on GeoVRML: a tool for 3D representation of georeferenced data on the web

GeoVRML techniques have the potential to provide functional and transparent communication between geographical information and 3D Web visualization tools. This report outlines recommended practices and modifications to the VRML97 standard to consider pre-existing cartographic projections and georeferenced data. The concepts outlined for incorporating georeferenced coordinate systems in VRML worlds have generic applicability to 3D Web technologies like MPEG-4, Java3D and Chrome.

The Knowledge Garden

The knowledge garden, a collaborative 3-D information visualisation tool, is described in this paper. Since humans are instinctively attuned to a 3-D world, 3-D interactive multimedia information sources offer the possibility of an intuitive and natural way to explore complex ideas, concepts and information. The knowledge garden aims to provide an environment where people can meet colleagues and share relevant information among a community of interest. Information is seen as an organic resource that changes over time, and is represented as plants in a shared-dimensional knowledge garden. Plants are grown from the results of an automatic clustering process whereby Internet resources containing related information are grouped together. Also described are proposed extensions to the garden which would support and encourage the creation of communities of interest and the sharing of tacit knowledge.

Visual Navigation of Complex Information Spaces

The authors lay the foundation for the introduction of visual navigation aid to assist computer users in direct manipulation of the complex information spaces. By exploring present research on scientific data visualisation and creating a case for improved information visualisation tools, they introduce the design of an improved information visualisation interface utilizing dynamic slider, called Visual-X, incorporating icons with bindable attributes (glyphs). Exploring the improvement that these data visualisations, make to a computing environment, the authors conduct an experiment to compare the performance of subjects who use traditional interfaces and Visual-X. Methodology is presented and conclusions reveal that the use of Visual-X appears to be a promising approach in providing users with a navigation tool that does not overload their cognitive processes.