Graphical Interfaces to Support Information Search

Overview Articles for Graphical Interfaces

Rao, R., Pedersen, J.O., Hearst, M.A., Mackinlay, J.D., Card, S.K., Masinter, L., Halvorsen, P., & Robertson, G.C. (1995). Rich Interaction in the Digital Library. Communications of the ACM, 38(4), 29-39.

.pdf available from ACM Digital Library (color ill.)
Ramana Rao, Jan O. Pedersen, Marti A. Hearst, Jock D. Mackinlay, Stuart K. Card, Larry Masinter, Per-Kristian Halvorsen and George C. Robertson

Author's Abstract
none

Additional Comments
This article provides a good background and overview of IR Visualization Systems, with screen shots and descriptions of some popular experimental systems. Illustrations include:

• Tilebars, for visualizing distribution of query terms within a document
• Butterfly, for visualizing citation among bibliographic records
• Protofoil, for accessing scanned documents with search and browse
• Information Visualizer: Perspective Wall, Cone-tree, Document Lens and Spiral Calendar
• The Table Lens
• Hyperbolic Tree Browser

Card, S.K. (1996). Visualizing Retrieved Information: A Survey. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, 16(2), 63-67.

.pdf available from IEEE Digital Library
Stuart K. Card
Xerox PARC

Author's Abstract
none

Additional Comments
This survey article contains early interesting graphical representations of information retrieval results, information representation, and organization. References to published work on various systems are provided. A great overview, but unfortunately it is outdated.
Illustrations include:

• the Web Forager, a 3D workspace with various windows
• the Xerox Information Visualizer, with many different tiny screens, each presenting information differently, i.e. fisheye, 3D, etc.)
• the Film Finder, a dynamic view that culls movies not meeting the adjustable criteria/characteristics
• the Cone tree, a 3D tree that brings the nodes forward that the user touches
• the SeeSoft display, a color coded overview of lines of code, which is colored based on last-modified date, or other selected variables
• the WebBook, which groups webpages into a simulated physical book
• Tilebars, which divides text into equal blocks and darkens the blocks according to how well they match the user search terms

Three Dimensional Visualization of the World Wide Web

ACM Computing Surveys, December 1999
available from ACM Digital Library

Steve Benford, Ian Taylor, David Brailsford, Boriana Koleva, Mike Craven, Mike Fraser, Gail Reynard and Chris Greenhalgh, School of Computer Science and Information Technology, The University of Nottingham

Author's Abstract
Although large-scale public hypermedia structures such as the World Wide Web are popularly referred to as "cyberspace", the extent to which they constitute a space in the everyday sense of the word is questionable. This paper reviews recent work in the area of three dimensional (3D) visualization of the Web that has attempted to depict it in the form of a recognizable space; in other words, as a navigable landscape that may be visibly populated by its users. Our review begins by introducing a range of visualizations that address different aspects of using the Web. These include visualizations of Web structure, especially of links, that act as 3D maps; browsing history; searches; evolution of the Web; and the presence and activities of multiple users. We then summarize the different techniques that are employed by these visualizations. We conclude with a discussion of key challenges for the future.

Additional Comments
This article includes descriptions and screen shots of several frequently cited Web visualization tools, including Natto, Narcissus, HotSauce, Perspecta SmartContent, Open Text Web Index, MAPA, WebPath, WebForager, WWW3D, and VR-VIBE.

Card, S.K., Mackinlay, J.D., Shneiderman, B.(1999). Readings in Information Visualization: Using Vision to Thing. San Francisco: Morgan Kaufmann.

Author's Abstract
none

Additional Comments
This book provides an excellent overview of the multidisciplinary subject of information visualization. For applications directed at textual information retrieval, Chapter 4, Focus + Context, includes descriptions and screenshots of the Fisheye View, the Bifocal Lens and the Table Lens. Chapter 5, Data Mapping: Document Visualization, includes descriptions and screenshots of SeeSoft (text in 1D), map displays (text in 2D), Galaxies (text in 3D) and Galaxy of News (3D + Time). Each article is introduced in the context of the larger field of information visualization , and each system is used to illustrate one aspect of information visualization.

BibRelEx: Overview of Existing Systems

Author's Abstract
none

Additional Comments

This overview evaluates the research status of several systems, including:

• Bibliographic Databases
• Full-Text Databases/Information Retrieval Systems
• Visualization Tools for Large Information Spaces
• Annotation Systems.

Case Study: A Combined Visualization Approach for WWW-Search Results

Author's Abstract
The idea of Information Visualization is to get insights into great amounts of abstract data. Especially document sets found by searching the World Wide Web are a special challenge. The paper gives a short overview on the variety of possible visualizations for this application area. Crucial factors for the success of visualizations are discussed. A combined approach is presented to use alternative simple visualizations, grouped around the traditional result-list, for usage with a local meta web search engine.

Additional Comments
This paper suggests embedding several alternative visualizations into the familiar user interface of a web browser. The authors review the more popular alternative visualizations, and choose six of them for their compilation system. They authors intend to test their combined system with users for further study.