Because every place worth going can be found on a topo map.
…so this response is going out sans supporting graphics. Pity.
As a (very) former physics major, the idea of creating dynamically stable, information carrying systems based on simple physical rules is, to use the appropriate word, sexy. The spring modeling of connections outlined in this weeks papers is fascinating, and leads to groupings that are both visually interesting and statistically meaningful. Rahil and I have been thinking about attempting to achieve essentially the same effect using models of other forces (specifically gravity), but how can I argue against the beautiful traditionalism of Hooke’s law.
This is not the first time I’ve run into network web visualizations. At this point they are ubiquitous, mapping everything from friendships, to news events to music taste. Breaking down the mathematical specifics and potential functionality of these charts was a lot of fun, and I’m sure will come in handy in the future.
Michelle was right to point out, however, that the second paper that dealt with both the way users interact with these visualizations is the meat of this week’s reading despite its brevity. The multiple visualization technique which pairs dynamic information about contacts over time with a relatively static graph of social connections allows a greater degree of dimensionality in the data without resorting to completely incomprehensible multilayered (or, horror!, three dimensional) graphs. Given the natural complexity of network data, it is a perfect place to use multiple, and even semi-redundant, displays on a single dashboard to allow for greater interaction from the user.
An interesting issue that arise from all this, is that there is something about network representations that appears to resonate with the way we make life narratives. User studies found that interacting with these sorts of displays (especially the temporally dynamic ones) encouraged reminiscence and storytelling. I can say from my own experience, going back through facebook photos and watching the cast of characters change over time is shockingly effective at creating feelings of intense nostalgia even in someone as generally unsentimental as myself. I actually like this idea of visualizing an evolving life cast, possibly through a combination of facebook photo images, email messages, and wall posts. A constellation of headshots that grow and shrink in prominence over time. It almost gives me chills.
