Dictionary Home » Computer Desktop Encyclopedia » information visualization

information visualization

information visualization definition - computer

Representing data in 3D images in order to navigate through it more quickly and access it in a more natural manner. Although the term was coined at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center, which has developed very advanced techniques, multidimensional cubes, or pivot tables, are a simpler form of information visualization that is widely used today. See OLAP and slice and dice.


_PARCIV3.GIF


A 3D Cone Tree

Data represented in this form provides faster navigation and allows more information to be seen at one time. The Cone Tree shows the structure of an entire hierarchy all at once, and the cones spin around to retrieve occluded data. (Image courtesy of Palo Alto Research Center; Brian Tramontana, photographer.)




_PARCIV2.GIF


The Perspective Wall

By smoothly moving from side to side, the Perspective Wall gives the user a feeling of "object constancy." Information is provided in a continuous flow from beginning to end. (Image courtesy of Palo Alto Research Center; Brian Tramontana, photographer.)




_PARCIV1.GIF


The Data Lens

This 3D pyramidal view of data once again allows more documents in view at one time. Pages "morph" into the front lens when selected. While you may not be using these viewers today, experiments such as this influence the user interface of tomorrow. (Image courtesy of Palo Alto Research Center; Brian Tramontana, photographer.)






Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
Copyright © 1981-2009 by Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.