Nahum D. Gershon

What storytelling can do for information visualization

A well-told story conveys great quantities of information in relatively few words in a format that is easily assimilated by the listener or viewer. People usually find it easier to understand information integrated into stories than information spelled out in serial lists (such as bulleted items in an overhead slide). Stories are also just more compelling. For example, despite its sketchiness, the story fragment in Figure 1 is loaded with information, following an analysis similar to that of John Thomas of IBM Research [5]. We find that Jim uses technology (a pager and the Internet) and is dedicated to his job. Many other pieces of information can be deduced about Jim and his work, as well as about his relationships with his coworkers, as noted in the right side of the figure. The story does not express all this information explicitly; some is only implied; for example, we can surmise that Jim is probably not at the gym and his attendance at the meeting is important to his boss and coworkers, as well as to his company’s business performance. As in most stories, this one involves uncerFor as long as people have been around, they have used stories to convey information, cultural values, and experiences. Since the invention of writing and the printing press until today, technology and culture have constantly provided new and increasingly sophisticated means to tell stories. More recently, technology, entertainment, and art have converged in the computer. The ancient art of storytelling and its adaptation in film and video can now be used to efficiently convey information in our increasingly computerized world. What Storytelling Can Do for Information Visualization

Visualization of an imperfect world

Visualized data and information can be inaccurate or even wrong. Moreover, in the synthetic digital world anybody can visualize anything in any shape or form, disregarding how users might perceive or get the information. Worse, as technology develops, it becomes easier to do so. Understanding the data and information and reaching sound decisions require knowing what pieces of information or data are accurate, complete, consistent, and certain, identifying which are not and by how much, and making the presentation accurate. The author discusses the following issues: sources of imperfection in information; representing the degree of imperfection; intuitive visual metaphors and cues for representing imperfection; imperfect presentation; and notions of managing imperfection and visualization.

Visualization of fuzzy data using generalized animation

Methods are presented for the visualization of fuzzy data based on the sensitivity of the human visual system to motion and dynamic changes, and the ease of which electronic display devices can change their display. The methods include taking an otherwise static image and displaying in an animation loop either its segmented components or a series of blurred versions of the whole image. This approach was applied to sea-surface temperature data and was found to be effective in showing fuzzy details embedded in the data, and in drawing the viewers attention. This approach and these methods could play a significant role in the display of browse products for massive data and information systems.<<ETX>>

Computer Graphics and Visualization in the Global Information Infrastructure

he global information infrastructure (Glii) T launched by Vice President A1 Gore sparked the public imagination and caused a burst of activity in R&D and commercial implementation of relevant technologies. Although involved with visualizing scientific data and generating realistic graphics, the computer graphics and visualization communities have not, in general, moved into the challenging world of information technology and the GII. We feel strongly that the GI1 must use the abilities and developments these communities have to offer to successfully reach people from all walks of life. The original impetus for this special report came from a suggestion by Tom Kalil (Director to the National Nahiuin Gershon Mitre Corporation

Case study: visualizing Internet resources

The goal is to improve the ability of people from all walks of life and interests to access, search, and use the information distributed in Internet resources. The process of interacting with information resources starts with browsing, continues with digesting and assimilating pieces of information, terminates with generation of new information, and begins anew with analysis of pre-existing and new information. Our approach is user-centric-taking users needs into account by allowing them to interact with the information contained in large arrays of documents. The visualization process is an integral part of the overall process. We have covered three related categories in this methodology. The first one is browsing through the World-Wide Web (WWW) hyperspace without becoming lost, based on a visual representation of the hyperspace hierarchical structure (hyperspace view). The second category is overcoming the rigidity of the WWW by allowing the user to construct interactively and visually a personal hyperspace of information, linking the documents according to the application or problem domain, or to the users own perception, experience, culture, or way of thinking. The third category includes discovery and analysis of new information and relationships in retrieved documents by aggregating relevant information and representing it visually.

Research issues in perception and user interfaces

Current visualization tools are capable but still require too much visualization knowledge on the users part. This requirement restricts the user in what is possible. Nor do the tools take account of what is known regarding cognition and perception. The authors focus at on three things: presentation of information to best match human cognitive and perceptual capabilities, interactive tools and systems to facilitate creation and navigation of visualizations, and software system features to improve visualization tools.<<ETX>>

Moving happily through the World Wide Web

Looks at some practical approaches to improving the process of interacting with information distributed over the global information infrastructure, specifically for the World Wide Web. The introduction of NCSA Mosaic changed the way we get information over the Web. With the click of a button, Mosaics graphical user interface made it possible to browse and retrieve literally any information accessible through the Web. This is true if you know the documents Universal Resource Locator (URL), an identifier expressing its location. You type in this address and sooner or later (depending on document size and traffic at the time), the document appears on your screen. If you do not know the URL, or even which documents contain the requested information, you might want to browse or search the Web. Interacting with information on the Web starts with browsing and searching; continues with selecting, digesting and assimilating information; terminates with generating new information; and begins anew. The users needs and desires must occupy center stage during development of Web systems and sites. The approach chosen should let users interact easily and effectively with the information contained throughout large arrays of documents. Visualization, computer graphics, and just plain common sense in designing Web pages and presenting information make the process better for users. This article discusses how to construct effective presentations (Web pages).

Human-Computer Interaction

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a term known since the early 1980s. In HCI, the user plays the central role, much more than the computer hardware or software by itself. It is a multi-disciplinary research field, populated by researchers and practitioners from areas like psychology and cognitive sciences, ergonomics, sociology, computer science, graphic design, business, and more. In order to build really usable interfaces, the knowledge and engagement of every single related field are basic prerequisites. We are taking a look on how selected areas have contributed to HCI in recent years.

Information visualization: the next frontier

knowledge of data visualization methods, software, and hardware in presenting the rather abstract information contained in data bases, digital libraries, and other massive collections of data and information. The panelists and audience will examine and debate how to create effective information visualizations and how to use them effectively in information navigation, retrieval, and access (e.g., in the information highway environment). Bringing this technology to the users, taking their needs into account, may transform business, science, medicine, engineering, and education. The audience and the public have been encouraged to submit samples of slides and video material illustrating effective and valuable visualizations.

Visualization Blackboard-visualizing 3D PET images

Characteristics of positron emission tomography (PET) images that limit human ability to accurately perceive the information the images contain are discussed. They are relatively low spatial resolution, a lack of apparent anatomical information and the expression of metabolic activity in terms of brightness levels (gray levels), which are not efficiently determined by the human visual system. These affect how clearly the 3-D structures contained in the reconstructed 3-D images can be seen. The use of pseudocolor to visualize different levels of activity expressed by brightness and shading to accentuate depth and shape information is described. To further enhance the brightness contrast of a surface with its neighboring areas, stereo and motion were used as depth cues.<<ETX>>