SpaceTree: Supporting Exploration in Large SpaceTree: Supporting Exploration in Large Node Link Tree, Design Evolution and Empirical Node Link Tree, Design Evolution and Empirical

Evaluation Evaluation

Catherine Plaisant, Jesse Grosjean, Benjamin B.BedersonCatherine Plaisant, Jesse Grosjean, Benjamin B.Bederson

in Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization, in Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization,

2002: 57 -64, Boston, October 20022002: 57 -64, Boston, October 2002

Presented by Presented by Mei Huang & Chunyuan LiaoMei Huang & Chunyuan Liao

3/10, 20053/10, 2005

OutlineOutline

MotivationMotivation

Related workRelated work

Highlights of SpaceTreeHighlights of SpaceTree

Controlled ExperimentsControlled Experiments

CommentsComments

DiscussionsDiscussions

MotivationMotivation

Improve classic tree representation (node Improve classic tree representation (node link diagram) by zoomable UI and link diagram) by zoomable UI and animation techniquesanimation techniques

Classic representation is the most familiar Classic representation is the most familiar mapping of a treemapping of a tree

Inefficient space usage makes large tree Inefficient space usage makes large tree exploration not so convenientexploration not so convenient

Zooming & animation can improve user Zooming & animation can improve user experiencesexperiences

Related work (1)Related work (1)

Category 1 : Space fillingCategory 1 : Space filling RepresentativesRepresentatives

TreemapsTreemaps

Information slicesInformation slices

CommentsCommentsFocus on leaf nodes, not the tree topologyFocus on leaf nodes, not the tree topology

Users need training due to unfamiliarityUsers need training due to unfamiliarity

Information Slices

Related work (2)Related work (2)Category 2 : Node linkCategory 2 : Node link

TechniquesTechniquesLayoutLayout : :

V/H hierarchy, Circular layout (hyperbolic tree), 3D diagramV/H hierarchy, Circular layout (hyperbolic tree), 3D diagram

Uneven scaling :Uneven scaling : Overview + Detail views, Zooming, Pruning, Expand & ContractOverview + Detail views, Zooming, Pruning, Expand & Contract

Selective rendering Selective rendering :: Dynamic QueryDynamic Query

CommentsCommentsClearer and intuitive view of tree topologyClearer and intuitive view of tree topologyChallenge in screen space usageChallenge in screen space usage

Highlights & Early Design lessonsHighlights & Early Design lessons

Semantic zoomingSemantic zooming

Aggressive expandingAggressive expanding

Decomposed tree animationDecomposed tree animation

Landmark Landmark

Search & FilterSearch & Filter

Demo

Hyperbolic BrowserHyperbolic Browser

Lay a whole tree out in Lay a whole tree out in a hyperbolic plane and a hyperbolic plane and map it to a unit diskmap it to a unit disk

Focus & context Focus & context

Smooth & continuous Smooth & continuous animationanimation

John Lamping, Ramana Rao, and Peter Pirolli “A Focus+Context Technique Based on Hyperbolic Geometry for Visualizing Large Hierarchies” Processdings of the ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Denver, May 1995

Circle Limit IV by M.C. Escher

Demo

Comparing SpaceTree, Hyperbolic Tree Browser, Comparing SpaceTree, Hyperbolic Tree Browser, MS Explorer, and TreemapMS Explorer, and Treemap

Task Task typetype Task examplesTask examples

ApplicationsApplications

STST HTHT EpEp TMTM

Node Node locationlocation

Find max/min on some attributeFind max/min on some attribute -- -- -- ++

Find a specific node by titleFind a specific node by title ++ ++ -- ++

Visiting Visiting historyhistory

Locate visited nodesLocate visited nodes -- -- -- --

Topology Topology questionquestion

Quick overviewQuick overview ++ ++ -- --

Compare 2+ branchesCompare 2+ branches -- -- -- --

List ancestorsList ancestors ++ -- -- --

Find braches with 10+ childrenFind braches with 10+ children -- ++ -- --

Compare branch sizeCompare branch size ++ -- -- --

Compare subtree depthCompare subtree depth ++ -- -- --

CommentsComments

A good application of zoomable UI & animationA good application of zoomable UI & animation

Early version review provides very useful Early version review provides very useful informationinformation

Controlled experiments were carefully designed; Controlled experiments were carefully designed; observation explanations were clear and soundobservation explanations were clear and sound

Screen space usage could be improvedScreen space usage could be improved

DiscussionsDiscussions

Checking available space in both Checking available space in both dimensions?dimensions?Alternative summarizersAlternative summarizersLabel several previously visited paths may Label several previously visited paths may be usefulbe usefulHow to deal with large node bounding box?How to deal with large node bounding box?Combining ST with HT?Combining ST with HT?