title: Coherent time-varying graph drawing with multifocus+context interaction.
abstract: We present a new approach for time-varying graph drawing that achieves both spatiotemporal coherence and multifocus+context visualization in a single framework. Our approach utilizes existing graph layout algorithms to produce the initial graph layout, and formulates the problem of generating coherent time-varying graph visualization with the focus+context capability as a specially tailored deformation optimization problem. We adopt the concept of the super graph to maintain spatiotemporal coherence and further balance the needs for aesthetic quality and dynamic stability when interacting with time-varying graphs through focus+context visualization. Our method is particularly useful for multifocus+context visualization of time-varying graphs where we can preserve the mental map by preventing nodes in the focus from undergoing abrupt changes in size and location in the time sequence. Experiments demonstrate that our method strikes a good balance between maintaining spatiotemporal coherence and accentuating visual foci, thus providing a more engaging viewing experience for the users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan, ROC. stevenf3@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kun-Chuan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Chaoli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Han-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Tong-Yee
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee