Auto-generated, Self-organizing Link Visualization
This page introduces and explains the applet-based visualization
experiments used as interfaces to the databases of the Union
of Interrnational Associations. For explanations concerning the other visualization
experiments, see elsewhere (http://www.uia.org/dyna/vizexp.htm).
The maps are generated under user control via http://www.uia.org/db/.
There are several pages from which a map may be (re)generated:
- From the search screen, after specifying a keyword (for example "forests"
for the database World Problems), and clicking on the map logo (
 ) against display choice.
- From an index listing, after running a search (for example "forests"
for the database World Problems), and clicking on the map logo () at the top
of the listing
- From a text profile, after running a search and selecting a profile
for display (for example "forests" for the database World Problems,
then click on "deforestation"), and then click on the map logo ()
against any of the lists of cross-references of different types
The purposes of these self-organizing displays are to create a
visual index to show the complexity of relationships between (data) profiles
and reveal the data rich domains. The maps are generated directly from the data
in response to user requests. Each display is dynamic and continues to organize
itself in response to user constraints applied via the mouse. Further improvements
to the display are under development in order to offer new insights into the
data.
Unsatisfactory displays
You may experience a variety of problems until you are familiar
with this experimental tool:
- In many cases these are due to the number of items requested -- try a smaller
selection -- especially if you cause a "server error" or "Applet
will not start error" !
- Sometimes the mouse functions do not work -- try restarting your browser
(or reboot to reinitialize the applet). Applets can be unpredictable.
- Other errors may be due to defects in the data -- we are working on them
!
- Very simple (boring) map, or "No links" to map -- try other keyword(s)
- Display is too dynamic. If it remains unstable after giving it time to settle,
then try switching to a smaller selection of nodes.
Unusual displays
Some of the displays are exceptionally elegant -- despite the
content. Examples include:
| Database |
Keywords |
Profile |
Relationship type |
Max # |
Scale |
| World problems |
discrimination women |
Discrimination against women |
Narrower |
400 |
25% |
| World problems |
poverty |
Rural poverty |
Aggravated by |
350 |
25% |
| Strategies |
unemployment |
Reducing unemployment |
Facilitated by |
350 |
25% |
| Strategies |
permaculture |
Using permaculture |
Broader |
300 |
50% |
| Strategies |
air pollution |
Reducing air pollution |
Facilitated by |
300 |
25% |
Manipulating the map: what you can do with the mouse
You can manipulate the display in a variety of ways using the
mouse:
- Temporary label display: Move the cursor over any node and the profile
names of all immediately connected nodes will appear temporarily. Tip: if
too many are displayed to see a central node label, put the cursor over any
node that is only connected to that central node.
- Permanent label display: Move the cursor over a selected node and
do ctrl-right-click. You can hide the label by repeating the procedure
- Moving parts of the display: Drag any node to a new position (with
the left mouse button); it will stick their temporarily
- Fixing a node in a new position: After moving, use a right-click
to fix the node position. The node should change colour. Release it from that
position by repeating the procedure (right-click on the node). You can move
all the parts into a new configuration which you find meaningful. Note: when
you have completed this procedure, consider taking a screen shot for use elsewhere
(notably in PowerPoint type displays)
- Display text profile: From any node you can access the corresponding
descriptive text profile in the database from which the map was generated.
Use shift with left-click and a new browser window will be opened. Exit it
to return.
- Display a related map: From any node you can generate a new map based
on that node. It is generated in a new brower window. Exit it to return. The
map can therefore be used as a visual index. (We are working on ways that
you can save a map, after you have manipulated it, and use it as your personal
index to our database)
- Use the mouse on the control panel on the left to:
- Hide or show directional arrows (we are working to improve the
signficance of the arrow display)
- Hide or show icons (we are planning to associate icons with nodes
of particular significance)
- Sounds are gnerated by using mouseover particular icons (we are
planning on associating sounds of greater mnemonic significance with particular
nodes -- signature tunes?)
- Link type labels can be displayed if desired (a feature only
of use in the future, since the display currently is for a single type
of relationship anyway)
- Change background: Switch the background for a different impression
Redefining map properties
Below the map display is a range of facilities with which you
can experiment. If you do not like the colours, scale, background, line thickness
or complexity -- then try changing them:
- Select maximum number of items displayed: You can have simpler maps,
or more complex (if there is data to display). Note that the applet has a
size limit which we hope to increase. The top line indicates how much the
applet has been able to process. If you choose too high a figure, the data
may cause the applet to crash.
- Zooming: You can increase the size of the map, effectively moving
in. The default is set at 25% which gives a better overview. We aim to improve
this feature
- Line colour / thickness: The line colours and thickness can be changed
using the pull down menus. Both these features are associated with "rings".
The first ring includes the nodes directly connected to the source node (or
node cluster). The second ring includes those linked to the first ring, etc.
If you are exploring hierarchical relationships, each ring may be one step
down the hierarchy (in the case of "narrower" type relationships)
or up the hierarchy (in the case of "broader" type relationships)
- Some other defaults:
- Background: Can be set to black or white. Tip: try choosing a line colour
as black or white and then toggling between the two backgrounds to show
and hide particular types of relationship
- Icons: These can be set on or off.
- Sounds: These can be set to play or not.
Selecting other relationship types
There are three possibilities:
- Same database / Same starting point: You can also force the map to be regenerated
using a different set of relationships (if there are any in the data). Check
the corresponding check profile if you are unsure whether the starting point
will be fruitful.
- Different database / Same starting point: If the map was generated directly
from a keyword search, you will be able to switch it to generation from another
database using the same keywords.
- Same database / Different starting point: As in the previous case, but you
can change the set of keywords, effectively allowing you to use the map display
as a search interface.
The applet was developed by Gerald de Jong of Beautiful Code (http://www.beautifulcode.nl/).
For comments on the data and the map, please
target="_blank" title="Send an e-mail to the Union of International Associations (UIA)">contact us.
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