2,364 research outputs found
Design Guidelines for Agent Based Model Visualization
In the field of agent-based modeling (ABM), visualizations play an important role in identifying, communicating and understanding important behavior of the modeled phenomenon. However, many modelers tend to create ineffective visualizations of Agent Based Models (ABM) due to lack of experience with visual design. This paper provides ABM visualization design guidelines in order to improve visual design with ABM toolkits. These guidelines will assist the modeler in creating clear and understandable ABM visualizations. We begin by introducing a non-hierarchical categorization of ABM visualizations. This categorization serves as a starting point in the creation of an ABM visualization. We go on to present well-known design techniques in the context of ABM visualization. These techniques are based on Gestalt psychology, semiology of graphics, and scientific visualization. They improve the visualization design by facilitating specific tasks, and providing a common language to critique visualizations through the use of visual variables. Subsequently, we discuss the application of these design techniques to simplify, emphasize and explain an ABM visualization. Finally, we illustrate these guidelines using a simple redesign of a NetLogo ABM visualization. These guidelines can be used to inform the development of design tools that assist users in the creation of ABM visualizations.Visualization, Design, Graphics, Guidelines, Communication, Agent-Based Modeling
Sketchy rendering for information visualization
We present and evaluate a framework for constructing sketchy style information visualizations that mimic data graphics drawn by hand. We provide an alternative renderer for the Processing graphics environment that redefines core drawing primitives including line, polygon and ellipse rendering. These primitives allow higher-level graphical features such as bar charts, line charts, treemaps and node-link diagrams to be drawn in a sketchy style with a specified degree of sketchiness. The framework is designed to be easily integrated into existing visualization implementations with minimal programming modification or design effort. We show examples of use for statistical graphics, conveying spatial imprecision and for enhancing aesthetic and narrative qualities of visual- ization. We evaluate user perception of sketchiness of areal features through a series of stimulus-response tests in order to assess users’ ability to place sketchiness on a ratio scale, and to estimate area. Results suggest relative area judgment is compromised by sketchy rendering and that its influence is dependent on the shape being rendered. They show that degree of sketchiness may be judged on an ordinal scale but that its judgement varies strongly between individuals. We evaluate higher-level impacts of sketchiness through user testing of scenarios that encourage user engagement with data visualization and willingness to critique visualization de- sign. Results suggest that where a visualization is clearly sketchy, engagement may be increased and that attitudes to participating in visualization annotation are more positive. The results of our work have implications for effective information visualization design that go beyond the traditional role of sketching as a tool for prototyping or its use for an indication of general uncertainty
Computational Visualistics: Dealing with Pictures in Computer Science
Building blocks from many disciplines have to be integrated into a general science of images. Computational visualistics has been formed as a contributing field embracing all aspects of dealing with images computationally. Two basic concepts of computer science are introduced. Applied to the concept "image", they determine the methodological core of computational visualistics. As the contribution of computer science to the subject of image theory, interactive pictures are examined. Finally, relations to other "image sciences" are sketched.
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Bausteine vieler Disziplinen müssen in eine allgemeine Bildwissenschaft integriert werden. Als Beitrag aus der Informatik versteht sich die Computervisualistik, die alle Aspekte rechnergestützten Umgangs mit Bildern umfaßt. Zwei Grundbegriffe der Informatik werden vorgestellt und bestimmen, auf den Begriff "Bild" angewendet, den methodologischen Kern der Computervisualistik. Als Beitrag der Informatik zum Gegenstand der Bildtheorie werden interaktive Bilder betrachtet. Schließlich werden die Beziehungen zu anderen "Bildwissenschaften" kurz umrissen
Automated pebble mosaic stylization of images
Digital mosaics have usually used regular tiles, simulating the historical
"tessellated" mosaics. In this paper, we present a method for synthesizing
pebble mosaics, a historical mosaic style in which the tiles are rounded
pebbles. We address both the tiling problem, where pebbles are distributed over
the image plane so as to approximate the input image content, and the problem
of geometry, creating a smooth rounded shape for each pebble. We adapt SLIC,
simple linear iterative clustering, to obtain elongated tiles conforming to
image content, and smooth the resulting irregular shapes into shapes resembling
pebble cross-sections. Then, we create an interior and exterior contour for
each pebble and solve a Laplace equation over the region between them to obtain
height-field geometry. The resulting pebble set approximates the input image
while presenting full geometry that can be rendered and textured for a highly
detailed representation of a pebble mosaic
3D Line textures and the visualization of confidence in Architecture
technical reportThis work introduces a technique for interactive walkthroughs of non-photorealistically rendered (NPR) scenes using 3D line primitives to define architectural features of the model, as well as indicate textural qualities. Line primitives are not typically used in this manner in favor of texture mapping techniques which can encapsulate a great deal of information in a single texture map, and take advantage of GPU optimizations for accelerated rendering. However, texture mapped images may not maintain the visual quality or aesthetic appeal that is possible when using 3D lines to simulate NPR scenes such as hand-drawn illustrations or architectural renderings. In addition, line textures can be modi ed interactively, for instance changing the sketchy quality of the lines, and can be exported as vectors to allow the automatic generation of illustrations and further modi cation in vector-based graphics programs. The technique introduced here extracts feature edges from a model, and using these edges, generates a reduced set of line textures which indicate material properties while maintaining interactive frame rates. A clipping algorithm is presented to enable 3D lines to reside only in the interior of the 3D model without exposing the underlying triangulated mesh. The resulting system produces interactive illustrations with high visual quality that are free from animation artifacts
Design Characterization for Black-and-White Textures in Visualization
We investigate the use of 2D black-and-white textures for the visualization
of categorical data and contribute a summary of texture attributes, and the
results of three experiments that elicited design strategies as well as
aesthetic and effectiveness measures. Black-and-white textures are useful, for
instance, as a visual channel for categorical data on low-color displays, in
2D/3D print, to achieve the aesthetic of historic visualizations, or to retain
the color hue channel for other visual mappings. We specifically study how to
use what we call geometric and iconic textures. Geometric textures use patterns
of repeated abstract geometric shapes, while iconic textures use repeated icons
that may stand for data categories. We parameterized both types of textures and
developed a tool for designers to create textures on simple charts by adjusting
texture parameters. 30 visualization experts used our tool and designed 66
textured bar charts, pie charts, and maps. We then had 150 participants rate
these designs for aesthetics. Finally, with the top-rated geometric and iconic
textures, our perceptual assessment experiment with 150 participants revealed
that textured charts perform about equally well as non-textured charts, and
that there are some differences depending on the type of chart
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