Dirk Burkhardt

Interacting with semantics: a user-centered visualization adaptation based on semantics data

Semantically annotated data gain more and more importance in future information acquiring processes. Especially the Linked Open Data (LOD) format has already experienced a great growth. However, the user-interfaces of web-applications mostly do not reflect the added value of semantics data. The following paper describes a new approach of user-centered data-adaptive semantics visualization, which makes use of the advantages of semantics data combined with an adaptive composition of information visualization techniques. It starts with a related work section, where existing LOD systems and information visualization techniques are described. After that, the new approach will bridge the gap between semantically annotated data (LOD) and information visualization and introduces a visualization system that adapts the composition of visualizations based on the underlying data structure. A case study of an example case will conclude this paper.

Semantics visualization for fostering search result comprehension

Current search engines present search results in an ordered list even if semantic technologies are used for analyzing user queries and the document contents. The semantic information that is used during the search result generation mostly remains hidden from the user although it significantly supports users in understanding why search results are considered as relevant for their individual query. The approach presented in this paper utilizes visualization techniques for offering visual feedback about the reasons the results were retrieved. It represents the semantic neighborhood of search results, the relations between results and query terms as well as the relevance of search results and the semantic interpretation of query terms for fostering search result comprehension. It also provides visual feedback for query enhancement. Therefore, not only the search results are visualized but also further information that occurs during the search processing is used to improve the visual presentation and to offer more transparency in search result generation. The results of an evaluation in a real application scenario show that the presented approach considerably supports users in assessment and decision-making tasks and alleviates information seeking in digital semantic knowledge bases.

SemaVis: A New Approach for Visualizing Semantic Information

Information is an indispensable resource today. Access to and interaction with information play more and more a key role, whereas the amount of accessible information increases. Semantic technologies provide new solutions to structure this important property. One promising way to access the complex semantic structures and the huge amount of data is visualization. Today’s Semantic Visualization systems offer primarily proprietary solutions for predefined and known users and usage scenarios. The adaptation to other scenarios and users is often cost- and time-consuming. This article presents a novel model for a fully adaptable and adaptive Semantics Visualization framework. Starting with the introduction of a new visualization model, the implementation of this model will be described. The article concludes with selected advantages of the described visualization technology.

Towards process-oriented Information Visualization for supporting users

Nowadays daily office work consists of dealing with big numbers of data and data sources, and furthermore of working with complex computer programs. In consequence many users have problems to use such programs effective and efficient. In particular beginners have significant problems to use the programs correctly due to complex functionality and interaction options. To avoid this overload of the user, the Information Visualization community has recently developed some approaches that aim to support the users. Unfortunately, these approaches are limited to one special aspect, and sometimes they are just appropriate for one special task. Thus, in this paper we introduce a process-oriented user-supporting approach. It allows selecting adequate supporting techniques in correlation to a performed process and activity to guide the user and help him to solve his task. Furthermore, we show the benefits of designing programs and applications, which implement process definitions for the existing tasks to provide the user with better process orientation. This guides the user through difficult and complex processes.

Handbook of Research on Advanced ICT Integration for Governance and Policy Modeling

This chapter explains the manner of implementing FUPOL policy model and FUPOL platform in the process of creating the actual policies in the City of Zagreb. For that purpose, two pilot initiatives have been chosen, and based on them, the whole policy lifecycle has been covered. The background of these pilots is explained, as well as the challenges that the City of Zagreb has faced. In addition, the results of concrete actions and possible solutions are presented. All of them use a new integrated approach to policy design and implementation that consists of an advanced policy lifecycle and an IT-solution (FUPOL) with features supporting all phases of the proposed lifecycle.

Visual Statistics Cockpits for Information Gathering in the Policy-Making Process

A major step in ICT-driven policy making is information gathering. During this phase, analysts and experts have to deal with a high number of statistical data which they use as a basis to identify problems and find appropriate solutions. This paper introduces a statistical data model to support these analysts and experts. It allows for handling the complexity (i.e. the dimensions) of the data for the visualizations. In particular, it helps to use the same data for two-dimensional, but also multi-dimensional statistics visualizations. Based on this statistic data model we introduce an interactive approach of visual statistics cockpits. This results in highly interactive statistics visualization cockpits that enable both analysts and experts to improve problem assessment and solution finding.

Technology Support for Analyzing User Interactions to Create User-Centered Interactions

Alternative interaction devices become more important in the communication between users and computers. Parallel graphical User Interfaces underlay a continuous development and research. But today does no adequate connection exist between these both aspects. So if a developer wants to provide an alternative access over more intuitive interaction devices, he has to implement this interaction-possibility on his own by regarding the users perception. A better way to avoid this time-consuming development-process is presented in this paper. This method can easy implement by a developer and users get the possibility to interact on intuitive way.

Explorative Visualization of Impact Analysis for Policy Modeling by Bonding Open Government and Simulation Data

Problem identification and solution finding are major challenges in policy modeling. Statistical indicator-data build the foundation for most of the required analysis work. In particular finding effective and efficient policies that solve an existing political problem is critical, since the forecast validation of the effectiveness is quite difficult. Simulation technologies can help to identify optimal policies for solutions, but nowadays many of such simulators are stand-alone technologies. In this paper we introduce a new visualization approach to enable the coupling of statistical indicator data from Open Government Data sources with simulators and especially simulation result data with the goal to provide an enhanced impact analysis for political analysts and decision makers. This allows, amongst others a more intuitive and effective way of solution finding.

Modeling users for adaptive semantics visualizations

The automatic adaptation of information visualization systems to the requirements of users plays a key-role in todays research. Different approaches from both disciplines try to face this phenomenon. The modeling of user is an essential part of a user-centered adaptation of visualization. In this paper we introduce a new approach for modeling users especially for semantic visualization systems. The approach consists of a three dimensional model, where semantic data, user and visualization are set in relation in different abstraction layer.

Classifying interaction methods to support intuitive interaction devices for creating user-centered-systems

Nowadays a wide range of input devices are available to users of technical systems. Especially modern alternative interaction devices, which are known from game consoles etc., provide a more natural way of interaction. But the support in computer programs is currently a big challenge, because a high effort is to invest for developing an application that supports such alternative input devices. For this fact we made a concept for an interaction system, which supports the use of alternative interaction devices. The interaction-system consists as central element a server, which provides a simple access interface for application to support such devices. It is also possible to address an abstract device by its properties and the interaction-system overtakes the converting from a concrete device. For realizing this idea, we also defined a taxonomy for classifying interaction devices by its interaction method and in dependence to the required interaction results, like recognized gestures. Later, by using this system, it is generally possible to develop a user-centered system by integrating this interaction-system, because an adequate integration of alternative interaction devices provides a more natural and easy to understand form of interaction.