Skeletal Images as Visual Cues in Graph Visualization. Information Systems

摘要

The problem of graph layout and drawing is fundamental to many approaches to the211u001evisualization of relational information structures. As the data set grows, the 211u001evisualization problem is compounded by the need to reconcile the user's need for 211u001eorientation cues with the danger of information overload. Put simply: How can we 211u001elimit the number visual elements on the screen so as not to overwhelm the user 211u001eyet retain enough information that the user is able to navigate and explore the 211u001edata set confidently; How can we provide orientational cues so that a user can 211u001eunderstand the location of the current viewpoint in a large data set. These are 211u001eproblems inherent not only to graph drawing but information visualization in 211u001egeneral. We propose a method which extracts the significant features of a 211u001edirected acyclic graph as the basis for navigation.