EdgeMaps: visualizing explicit and implicit relations

Marian Dörk; Sheelagh Carpendale; Carey Williamson

doi:10.1117/12.872578

24 January 2011 EdgeMaps: visualizing explicit and implicit relations

Marian Dörk, Sheelagh Carpendale, Carey Williamson

Proceedings Volume 7868, Visualization and Data Analysis 2011; 78680G (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.872578
Event: IS&T/SPIE Electronic Imaging, 2011, San Francisco Airport, California, United States

Abstract

In this work, we introduce EdgeMaps as a new method for integrating the visualization of explicit and implicit data relations. Explicit relations are specific connections between entities already present in a given dataset, while implicit relations are derived from multidimensional data based on shared properties and similarity measures. Many datasets include both types of relations, which are often difficult to represent together in information visualizations. Node-link diagrams typically focus on explicit data connections, while not incorporating implicit similarities between entities. Multi-dimensional scaling considers similarities between items, however, explicit links between nodes are not displayed. In contrast, EdgeMaps visualize both implicit and explicit relations by combining and complementing spatialization and graph drawing techniques. As a case study for this approach we chose a dataset of philosophers, their interests, influences, and birthdates. By introducing the limitation of activating only one node at a time, interesting visual patterns emerge that resemble the aesthetics of fireworks and waves. We argue that the interactive exploration of these patterns may allow the viewer to grasp the structure of a graph better than complex node-link visualizations.

Citation Download Citation

Marian Dörk, Sheelagh Carpendale, and Carey Williamson "EdgeMaps: visualizing explicit and implicit relations", Proc. SPIE 7868, Visualization and Data Analysis 2011, 78680G (24 January 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.872578

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