¹Advanced Interaction Group, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Brimingham, U.K.

Correspondence: Russell Beale, Advanced Interaction Group, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, BirminghamB15 2TT, U.K. E-mail: R.Beale@cs.bham.ac.uk

Received 19 April 2005; Revised 16 August 2006; Accepted 16 September 2006.

Abstract

Visualisations of complex interrelationships have the potential to be complex and require a lot of cognitive input. We have drawn analogues from natural systems to create new visualisation approaches that are more intutive and easier to work with. We use nature-inspired concepts to provide cognitive amplification, moving the load from the user's cognitive to their perceptual systems and thus allowing them to focus their cognitive resources where they are most appropriate. Two systems are presented: one uses a physical-based model to construct the visualisation, while the other uses a biological inspiration. Their application to four visualisation tasks is discussed: the structure of information browsing on the internet; the structure of parts of the web itself; to aid the refinement of queries to a digital library; and to compare different documents for similar content.