Visualizing Network Data
Richard A. Becker
Stephen G.Eick
Allan R.Wilks
Network Data
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Understanding network data is crucial
Dataset
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Internet data, telephone data…
www, e-mail communication…
Challenge: coping with data volumes
SeeNet
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Goal: visualizing the network data, not
just the structure of the network itself
Reduce the amount of data
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Aggregation, Averaging, Thresholding,
Exception reporting
Techniques: Static displays, Interactive
controls, Animation
Network Displays
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Linkmaps
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Nodemaps
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Map clutter problem
Use aggregation
Omit detailed information
Matrix Display
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In/out nodes are assigned in rows/cols
Omit geographical information
Linkmaps vs. Nodemaps
Parameter Focusing
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Select the parameter values controlling the
characteristics of the display
Parameter Values
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Statistic, Levels, Geography/Topology, Time,
Aggregation, Size, Color..
Issues
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Large space of possible values
Most combinations are not understandable
Displays are sensitive to particular values
Interactive Control
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Identification
Linkmap/Nodemaps
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Matrix Display
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Sliders for line length, thickness, animation speed,
color, time, symbol size
Permutation of the rows/cols(drag-and-drop)
Zooming and Bird’s-Eye
Animation/Conditioning/Sound
Interactive Control(link length)
Further Examples
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CICNet
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E-mail Communications
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Packet-switched data network
Schematic, not geographic
Nodes(users) and Links(#emails)
World Internet
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Display statistics from the internet
Further Examples(2)
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CICNet
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E-mail
Communication
My Favorite Sentences
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To solve the display clutter problem, we
invented a suite of parametric
techniques embodied in a dynamic
graphics software system called SeeNet
that enable a user to focus the display
and thereby reveal patterns in the
network data
Contribution
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Focus on both a network and data on
that network
Try to solve the display clutter problem
Dynamic parameter control
Reference
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Fairchild, Poltrock, Furnas[15]
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Sarkar, Brown[16]
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Visualizing the structure of sparse networks
Paulish[17]
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the SemNet system
Edge concentration, gradual focusing
Ahlberg, Shneiderman[34]
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A nearly instantaneous response is critical
Critique
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Strength
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Three different display methods
Lots of parameters that users can choose
Easy to manipulate parameters
Can produce good visualization for various
network datasets
Weakness
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Is it easy to find the best combination of
parameters and display method?
What has happened to this topic?
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Constructing Interactive Network Visual
Interfaces (1998)
Cited by
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CyberNet: A framework for managing networks
using 3D metaphoric worlds
Real-Time Geographic Visualization of World Wide
Web Traffic (1996)
CAIDA visualization tools
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http://www.caida.org/tools/visualization/