Homework #4:  High-Resolution Visualization Design

The goal of this homework is to creatively design a static visualization for high-resolution display, utilizing overview and physical zoom+pan.

Design:  Design a static visualization of an information topic of your choice for the GigaPixel Display (as a large bitmap image). Choose a topic that is large and complex enough to make visualization interesting. Be creative. Some example topic ideas are:

• the timeline of your life
• your interactive resume
• a favorite hobby
• NCAA basketball
• research at the VT computer science department (if you do a good job we will use yours as a demo for visitors).

Your data content should include at least 2 different information structures as we have been discussing in class:  multi-dimensional, 1D/2D, tree, or graph-structured. With the GigaPixel Display you will be using physical navigation, which is similar to the zoom+pan navigation strategy discussed in class.  Your design should make good use of information visualization principles, including:

• "overview first" to see major trends at the top level (by standing back from the display). Apply the overview strategies discussed in class.
• zoom in (using physical navigation) to drill down into more detailed information.
• use "visual mapping" to visualize quantitative data or other attributes of the information.

Scope:  It is probably unreasonable to fill-in the entire visualization with detailed content in the time allotted. Hence, your visualization may show detail for only part of the space.  However, your design should clearly demonstrate both breadth (overview) and depth (full detail on part of the space).

Software:  You will create your visualization as a 16,000 x 6,000 pixel PNG bitmap image.  It is not possible to edit your visualization on the GigaPixel, so you will need to edit on your own system using a lot of zooming.  Since most bitmap editors will choke on such a large image, I recommend downloading the free InkScape application which uses vector graphics and can export to PNG format:

• Start with this template inkscape SVG file, which is set for the correct resolution and has gridlines showing where the LCD display bezels are when displayed on the GigaPixel.
• InkScape shows a lot of empty space outside the image border.  Use View|Zoom|Page to zoom out to the overview.  The "Z:" box on bottom-right of status bar and the magnifying glass tool controls your zoom level.
• Edit and save often, using the SVG format.
• When finished, use File|Export Bitmap|Page|Export to save a PNG image.  example PNG file

You can test your PNG visualization on the GigaPixel by following the instructions posted in the Lab.

Report:  Write a 1-2 page report that answers:

1. What data types did you include in your visualization?
2. What visual mappings did you use?
3. Which overview design strategies ("hammer", "chainsaw", "combine") did you use and how?  What information did you bubble up to the overview level, and how did you decide?
4. How does your Hi-Res design support physical navigation?  How is your design different than if you designed for virtual zoom+pan?  How did you enable semantic zooming?
5. How is your design similar and different from a hypertext design with pages and hyperlinks?

Submit: 

• Send an email to GTA Sarah that contains your SVG file (or PNG file if you didn't use InkScape).  If the file is too large to email, send a URL.
• Bring a hardcopy of your report to class.
• Bring your PNG file to class on a thumb-drive, or put it in your filebox or somewhere web accessible.

Demo:  in class on the due date, each student will show their PNG on the GigaPixel and give a 2 minute discussion.