Exploring Semantic Social Networks Using Virtual Reality

Abstract

Abstract. We present Redgraph, the first generic virtual reality visualization program for Semantic Web data. Redgraph is capable of handling large data-sets, as we demonstrate on social network data from the U.S. Patent Trade Office. We develop a Semantic Web vocabulary of virtual reality terms compatible with GraphXML to map graph visualization into the Semantic Web itself. Our approach to visualizing Semantic Web data takes advantage of user-interaction in an immersive environment to bypass a number of difficult issues in 3-dimensional graph visualization layout by relying on users themselves to interactively extrude the nodes and links of a 2-dimensional graph into the third dimension. When users touch nodes in the virtual reality environment, they retrieve data formatted according to the data's schema or ontology. We applied Redgraph to social network data constructed from patents, inventors, and institutions from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in order to explore networks of innovation in computing. Using this data-set, results of a user study comparing extrusion (3-D) vs. no-extrusion (2-D) are presented. The study showed the use of a 3-D interface by subjects led to significant improvement on answering of fine-grained questions about the data-set, but no significant difference was found for broad questions about the overall structure of the data. Furthermore, inference can be used to improve the visualization, as demonstrated with a data-set of biotechnology patents and researchers.

VirtualDesk: A Comfortable and Efficient Immersive Information Visualization Approach

“…A commonly explored representation is node-link diagrams. Halpin et al implemented a generic semantic social network visualization software for CAVE-like environments, named Redgraph, and, in a user study, observed significant performance improvements for fine-grained questions using the immersive condition [HZBK08]. Kwon et al explored different techniques in an HMD-based environment, proposing the use of a new spheric layout that offered performance increase especially for more difficult tasks [KMLM16].…”

Tools for visualization and analysis of molecular networks, pathways, and -omics data

“…Virtual reality offers the possibility of fully exploring complex datasets by using powerful interactive visualizations. For example, Redgraph 82 allows users to visualize semantic social networks in a virtual reality-based environment supported by the Computer-Assisted Virtual Environment 83 (CAVE). Users can interact with the visualization in order to contextualize graph nodes by clicking on them in order to fetch relevant data.…”

Immersive Analytics of Large Dynamic Networks via Overview and Detail Navigation

“…Büschel et al [26] evaluated different edge styles for AR graphs and found that curved edges are harder to interpret. Halpin et al [7] initialized their VR scene with a 2D graph layout. Users could interactively "extrude" nodes to the third dimension to explore the social network.…”