Category: Information Visualization

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Exploring Visual Attention and Saliency Modeling for Task-Based Visual Analysis

Patrik Polatsek, Manuela Waldner, Ivan Viola, Peter Kapec, Wanda Benesova

Abstract. Memory, visual attention, and perception play a critical role in the design of visualizations. The way users observe a visualization is affected by salient stimuli in a scene as well as by domain knowledge, interest, and the task. While recent saliency models manage to predict the users’ visual attention in visualizations during exploratory analysis, there is little evidence of how much influence bottom-up saliency has on task-based visual analysis. Therefore, we performed an eye-tracking study with 47 users to determine the users’ path of attention when solving three low-level analytical tasks using 30 different charts from the MASSVIS database. We also compared our task-based eye-tracking data to the data from the original memorability experiment by Borkin et al.. We found that solving a task leads to more consistent viewing patterns compared to exploratory visual analysis. However, bottom-up saliency of visualization has negligible influence on users’ fixations and task efficiency when performing a low-level analytical task. Also, the efficiency of visual search for an extreme target data point is barely influenced by the target’s bottom-up saliency. Therefore, we conclude that bottom-up saliency models tailored toward information visualization are not suitable for predicting visual attention when performing task-based visual analysis. We discuss potential reasons and suggest extensions to visual attention models to better account for task-based visual analysis.

TASKVIS dataset contains eye-tracking data from this task-based visual analysis experiment.

download:  taskvis.zip

Please cite this paper if you use the dataset:

Polatsek, P., Waldner, M., Viola, I., Kapec, P., & Benesova, W. (2018)
Exploring Visual Attention and Saliency Modeling for Task-Based Visual Analysis
Computers & Graphics, 72, 26-38

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cag.2018.01.010

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Interactive Visualization of Abstract Data

Martin Å perka, Peter Kapec

Abstract. Information visualization is a large research area. Currently with more powerful computers and graphic accelerators more and more visualization techniques become part of daily use. In this paper we discus visualization of abstract data – data that is difficult or impossible to manually grasp. Using visualization of abstract data we can gain better insight. We present several experimental methods for visualizing graphs and show possible applications in the software visualization field.

INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATION OF ABSTRACT DATA

Å perka, Martin – Kapec, Peter: Interactive Visualization of Abstract Data.
In: Science & Military.- Vol. 5, No. 1 (2010), s. 84-90

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Visualizing software artifacts using hypergraphs

Peter Kapec

Abstract. In this paper we present an alternative software visualization approach that is based on hypergraphs. Hypergraphs are used in all steps of the visualization process — as a data model for representing software artifacts, trough a query mechanism based on hypergraphs up to the visualization level where we utilize interactive well known 3D graph visualizations methods. The proposed visualization aims to provide a visual programming environment for software developers. We also present visualizations of existing software projects.

Kapec, Peter: Visualizing software artifacts using hypergraphs.
In: SCCG’2010 Spring Conference on Computer Graphics in Cooperation with ACM and Eurographics, Budmerice, May 13-15, 2010 : Conference Proceedings. – ISBN 978-80-223-2843-2. – S. 33-38

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Visual Programming Environment Based on Hypergraph Representations

Peter Kapec

Abstract. In this paper we present a concept of a visual programming environment that uses hypergraphs for representing, querying and visualizing software artifacts. The hypergraph representation allows to store semantic relations between software artifacts an can be visualized with well-known graph drawing algorithms. The proposed visual programming environment focuses not only on software visualization, but also offers context visualization for programming tasks.We present visualizations of an existing software system and demonstrate how contextual information can be displayed when browsing and modifying source code artifacts.

Kapec, Peter: Visual Programming Environment Based on Hypergraph Representations.
In: ICCVG 2010 – Lecture Notes in Computer Science: International Conference on Computer Vision and Graphics
Warsaw, Poland, September 20-22, 2010 Proceedings, Part II (2010), ISSN 0302-9743, Vol. 6375 – Berlin : Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 9-16

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Metaphorical Visualizations of Graph Structures

L. Ukrob, M. Jakubeci, P. Kapec

Abstract. Data visualization of large abstract data sets and complicated relations is a complex research area with different problems and constraints. Often simple shapes and structures are not very eye-pleasing. Visualization metaphors, which create a mapping between a well-known problem domain and a new complicated problem domain, can produce interesting visualizations. In this paper we propose two metaphorical visualizations of graphs and multidimensional data: we propose a metaphor of soap bubble clusters to visualize graphs and a nebulae (sky) metaphor, which uses nebulae and stars to visualize graphs and multidimensional data.

Ukrop, Ľ., Jakubéci, M., Kapec, P.: Metaphorical Visualizations of Graph Structures,
In: GraVisMa’2010: 2nd International Workshop on Computer Graphics, Computer Vision and Mathematics,
Brno, Czech Republic, September 7-10, 2010, ISBN 978-80-86943-85-5, pp. 115-122

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New approaches in graph visualization

Ľuboš Ukrop

Abstract. Presented thesis deals with the field of information visualization. Lots of information has structural character with some kind of relations. This type of information could be naturally represented by graph, often in form of tree-like, hierarchical structure. The aim of this thesis was to introduce different algorithms for visualization of such structures in three dimensions and to design an experimental algorithm, which will visualize hierarchical structure reaching the shape of a soap bubble cluster. After the exploration of existing hierarchy visualization solutions a dynamical algorithm was created. It is based on the spring model, which was determined as the most appropriate technique for this task. For demonstrational purposes simple interactive visualization system was implemented. The process of system and algorithm development, along with capabilities and issues connected with its use, is discussed in detail.

Visualization without transparent nodes.
Visualization with transparent nodes.
Visualization with standard string length.
Visualization with modified string length.
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Interactive browsing of multimedia content in 3D space

Peter Mindek

Abstract. Subject of this project is visualization and interactive manipulations with multimedia data in a virtual 3D space. High amount of multimedia data requires more and more sophisticated applications capable of comfortable browsing of this data. The thesis focuses on existing applications, which are serving this purpose, mainly on those using 3D graphics. However, individual techniques used in the field of information visualization, such as graph representation of multimedia or focus+context techniques, are discussed as well. Since state-of-the-art multimedia applications cannot do without animations, the thesis also deals with several techniques used in computer animation. Output of this project is an application capable of easy and spectacular browsing of multimedia files stored on a hard drive or other storage device. The animations used for multimedia browsing are scriptable with Lua scripting language. User can define his or her own methods of displaying multimedia files that way.

Slideshow mode.
Animation script – double spiral.
Animation script – 3D wall.
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Interactive browsing of multimedia content in 3D space

Eduard Kuric

Abstract. The bachelor project describes existing interactive 3D user interfaces, visualization techniques and methods for manipulating and browsing of multimedia content in 3D space and discusses these solutions for purpose of possible improvment. This project includes survey of methods of organization data in 3D space and available support libraries for developers, too. The result of project is an application Vilcacora for browsing of multimedia content with a support of physical environment and simulation of real actions.

View to the desktop, loaded images were moved, rotated, resized by user interaction.
View to scene of picture overview. In the background is desktop with levitating pictures.
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Interactive manipulation with 3D graphs

Martin Ľudvík

Abstract. The objective of this project is to analyze current situation in domain of graph visualization and manipulation in 3D space. It is finding alternative approaches to such a manipulation and tries to demonstrate them using simply system, as well.

Nodes placement using cone selection cursor.
Deleting node’s children using a cylinder selection cursor.
Helper lines that project nodes onto selection planes.
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Constraints in Force-directed Graph Visualization

Jakub Ukrop

Abstract. Presented thesis deals with graph drawing methods based on spring embedder. The aim of this thesis is providing the summary of existing force-directed algorithms and designing a system for three-dimensional graph visualization. The system will provide automatic and manual constraining possibilities, in order to produce various specific graph layouts (e.g. walls, spheres, cylinders etc). In addition, it will demonstrate the possibilities of graph or subgraph modifications by means of the insertion and manipulation of additional (dummy) nodes.

Application of restrictions by entities.
Restriction by cube.
Example of restriction usage on better visualization of chosen node set.
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Visual data mining in software

Bc. Filip Komorovský

Abstract. The main task of visual data mining in software is to speed up the process of obtaining information from software projects. The more complex the software project is, the more time is needed for new engineers to fully understand its structure, so they can start to implement additional features. That is why there is a demand for tools which could help programmers and software engineers understand these new projects in shortest possible time, so they could start to work on it effectively.

In this work we analyzed existing approaches for software visualization and visual data mining. A new way of software visualization is proposed, which enables interactive data mining from software projects. Visualization works with software systems developed in C# programming language. Proposed tool creates a model which is then used for interactive visual data mining. This model is represented by graph structures visualized in 3D space. Visualization is interactively driven by user requirements. The result of this thesis is a tool developed for software engineers, designated for visual and interactive data mining in software projects.

A visualization of an existing software system implemented in C#
Showing only classes sorted by number of methods
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Library for graph visualization in 3D space

Peter Kajan

Abstract. The presented thesis deals with the visualization of large graphs. Chosen dynamic graph layout algorithms are analyzed in this paper. Algorithms computed on GPU are also mentioned and one of them is analyzed. Further, this paper deals with rendering optimization using scene graph. The goal of this thesis was to design and implement system able to visualize large graphs in 3D space using one of the analyzed layout algorithms and one of the scene graphs. The system has been tested on the set of graphs with known and unknown shape. It achieves “nice”drawings of graphs up to 5000 vertices in satisfying period of time. Results are presented at the end of this paper.

Enslyon (2682 nodes).
Veolia (639 nodes).
Graph illustrating small world (100 nodes).
Graph illustrating sending mail between people during year.