Visualization Schemas and a Web-Based Architecture for Custom Multiple-View Visualization of Multiple-Table Databases

Abstract

Relational databases provide significant flexibility to organize, store, and manipulate an infinite variety of complex data collections. This flexibility is enabled by the concept of relational data schemas, which allow data owners to easily design custom databases according to their unique needs. However, user interfaces and information visualizations for accessing and utilizing databases have not kept pace with this level of flexibility. Visualizations need to integrate multiple tables and diverse visualization tools into custom solutions. This paper describes advances to Snap-Together Visualization, introduces Visualization Schemas, and presents an extensible system architecture. The Snap model for custom multiple-view visualization establishes an analogy to the relational data model, enabling coordinated data design and visualization design. Visualization Schemas are a natural extension to data schemas, and provide a user interface that enables data owners to rapidly construct and disseminate custom visualizations without programming. The web-based software architecture supports run-time extensibility, enabling end-user integration and dissemination of diverse data and visualization tools from the field.

A Model and Software System for Coordinated and Multiple Views in Exploratory Visualization

“…16 However, like Pattison and Philips, 17 we believe in a wider view of coordination, which potentially may coordinate any aspect, such as data preparation, averaging, clustering and moving window positions. Recently, two models have been proposed: the Snap conceptual model 18 and the View Coordination Architecture. 17 Snap The Snap conceptual model takes a data-centric approach to coordination.…”

“…In addition, new types of coordination are introduced, such as the compound join and the multiple alternative joins. 18 In some respects Snap resembles our model; for instance, its architecture is event based and coordination is built from action associations. Snap also recognizes the need for a middleware party to ensure coordination operation and for a translation mechanism when dealing with heterogeneous information sources.…”

A coordination model for exploratory multiview visualization

“…For instance the Snap-together conceptual model for coordination [1] relies on the relational schemata, so joins between relations are links between visualizations.…”

“…However, like Pattison and Philips [15] we believe in a wider view of coordination, which potentially may coordinate any aspect such as data preparation, averaging, clustering, moving window positions etc. Recently two models have been proposed: the Snap conceptual model [1] and the View Coordination Architecture [15].…”

“…It provides a mechanism for constructing coordinations without the need for programming. In addition, new types of coordination are introduced such as the compound join and the multiple alternative joins [1].…”