Information Visualization

ABSTRACT

Visual representation of information requires merging of data visualization methods, computer graphics, design, and imagination. This course describes the emerging field of information visualization including visualizing retrieved information from large document collections (e.g., digital libraries), the World Wide Web, and databases. The course highlights the process of producing effective visualizations, making sense of information, taking users' needs into account, and illustrating good practical visualization procedures in specific case studies.

Keywords

Information visualization, visualization, World Wide Web, WWW, usability

© 1997 Copyright on this material is held by the authors.

INTRODUCTION

Visualization is more than a method of computing. It is a process of transforming information into a visual form enabling the user to observe the information. On the computer science side, it uses techniques of computer graphics and imaging. Besides relying on visual computing and display it involves human beings. Thus, we need to take into account human perceptual and cognitive capabilities, human variations, and task characteristics.

Visualization is more than pretty pictures. Successful visualizations can reduce the time it takes to get the information, make sense out of it, and enhance creative thinking. In contrast with most data used in scientific visualization, information is usually non-spatial or abstract. To create visualization, one needs to map the information into a physical space that will represent relationships contained in the information faithfully and efficiently. This could enable the observer to use his/her innate abilities to understand spatial relationships. Finding a good spatial representation of the information at hand is one of the most difficult tasks in visualization of abstract information.

KEY OBJECTIVES

The tutorial key learning objectives are gaining a working knowledge of how to effectively visualize abstract information (in contrast with scientific data which is often spatial) and how to apply this knowledge to specific areas such as the World Wide Web, text data bases, and network information.

TUTORIAL CONTENTS

The tutorial will consist of the following five parts:

1. Introduction
2. Visualization and Interaction Techniques
3. Perceptual Basis of Information Visualization
4. Case Studies
5. Conclusions and Discussion

Part 1, the introduction, will describe what is information visualization (info vis), and how it is similar and different from scientific data visualization. Examples of information visualization driving research and development in this field will be given including visualization in the World Wide Web environment. Finally, the part will cover different user's tasks where info vis could help and functional levels of visualization of retrieved information.

The second part, Visualization and Interaction Techniques, will describe display techniques such as node and link diagrams, hierarchical data, data landscapes, representations for text, and other techniques as well as interaction techniques (focusing, filtering, and linking).

Part 3, Perceptual Basis of Information Visualization, will describe the semiology of information visualization, information processing principles, the dual perceptual system, and focus + periphery dynamic displays.

The fourth part will describe selected case studies illustrating the principles discussed in the previous parts. It will include the WWW (browsing, organizing info), query & search in data bases & the WWW, and visualizing text.

Part 5 will include conclusions about future trends, key issues, and final discussion.

HOW THE TUTORIAL WILL BE CONDUCTED

The 3-hour course will be taught by three instructors. The instruction process will be interactive, i.e., participants will be encouraged to interact with the instruction process at any time during the course. A WWW page will be constructed so that the attendees will get related information and to interact with each other after the course is officially over.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

The intended audience of this tutorial are people who

• Work with scientific visualization and would like to extend the scope of their work
• Need to visualize information
• Would like to be able to produce effective presentations on the World Wide Web
• Would like to improve the interaction of users with information
• Would plan to conduct usability studies on information visualization presentations

The participants should have some basic knowledge in graphics and visualization and interest to understand this emerging and significant area.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

1. Course Introduction: 30 minutes

Nahum Gershon

• What is visualization
• The WWW & the Internet
• Examples driving R&D in info vis
• Different user tasks
• Functional levels of visualization of retrieved information

2. Visualization and Interaction Techniques: 60 minutes

Stephen G. Eick

• Display Techniques

­ Node and link diagrams

­ Hierarchical data

­ Data landscapes

­ Representations for text

­ Other techniques

• Interaction Techniques

­ Focusing

­ Filtering

­ Linking

3. Perceptual Basis of Information Visualization: 60 minutes

Stuart Card

• Semiology of Information Visualization
• Information Processing Principles
• The Dual Perceptual System
• Focus + Periphery Dynamic Displays

4. Case Studies: 20 minutes

Nahum Gershon

• Querying & searching in the WWW

5. Conclusions and Discussion: 10 minutes

Stuart Card

REFERENCES

1. Card, S., Visualizing retrieved information. in IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, March 1996, pp. 63-67.

2. Eick S.G., Aspects of network visualization. IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, March 1996, pp. 69-72.

3. Gershon, N. and Eick S.G. (editors). Proceedings of Information Visualization Symposium '95, Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos, CA, 1995

4. Gershon N., Moving happily through the World Wide Web. IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, March 1996, pp. 72-75.

5. Gershon, N. and Eick, S.G. Visualization's new tack: Making sense of information. IEEE Spectrum, November 1995, pp. 38-56.

6. Robertson, G.G., Card S. K., and Mackinlay J. D. Information visualization using 3D interactive animation., Commun ACM, 36, pp. 57­71, 1993.