Visual discussions : a visual representation of threaded discussion groups

Thesis (S.B. and M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-41).This is an M.Eng thesis, based on software development work done in collaboration with Lotus Development Corp. In this project we are creating a visual overview of ongoing threads of a discussion database. This will allow users to quickly focus their attention to relevant areas of areas in a large information space.by Shiva S. Sandy.S.B.and M.Eng

Foundations of Visual Metaphors for Schema Display

Abstract. Many aspects of database systems have been improved by Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). One area that has not received adequate attention in GUI research is the visual presentation of schemas, despite the increasingly important role that schemas play in database design and operation. Schema visualizations are valuable for viewing and manipulating both the schema and the information captured by it. In this paper, we describe a framework that formalizes the process of visualizing database schemas or any similar structured information. It is based on the concepts of a data model capturing schemas, a visual model capturing visualizations, and a visual metaphor that de nes a mapping between the two models. This formal description of the mapping between a schema and its visualization permits straightforward declaration of visual metaphors, and provides criteria to evaluate metaphors as to their ability to correctly visualize a schema. Given a visual metaphor, the framework divides visual information into that which has meaning relative to the data model, that which has meaning to the user but not to the data model, and that which is only aesthetic. This separation permits better use of aesthetic information, resulting in richer visualizations. As a whole, we believe that the formalism provides the foundations on which better schema visualization tools can be built