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March 2002, Volume 1, Number 1, Pages 50-65
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Original Article
Animated visualization of multiple intersecting hierarchies
George Robertson, Kim Cameron, Mary Czerwinski and Daniel Robbins

Microsoft Research, Redmond, Washington, USA

Correspondence to: George Robertson, Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052, USA. Tel: 1-425-703-1527; Fax: 1-425-936-7329; E-mail: ggr@microsoft.com

Abstract

The authors describe a new information structure composed of multiple intersecting hierarchies, which we call a Polyarchy. Visualizing polyarchies enables use of novel views for discovery of relationships which are very difficult using existing hierarchy visualization tools. This paper will describe the visualization design and system architecture challenges as well as our current solutions. Visual Pivot is a novel web-based polyarchy visualization technique, supported by a 'polyarchy server' implemented with a Mid-Tier Cache architecture. A series of five user studies guided iterative design of Visual Pivot. Finally, the effectiveness of animation in Visual Pivot is discussed.

Information Visualization (2002) 1, 50-65. DOI: 10.1057/palgrave/ivs/9500002

Keywords

Information visualization; 3D; animation; hierarchy; polyarchy; user studies

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