US 2015/0310643 A1Published application

Methods and Software for Visualizing Data By Applying Physics-Based Tools To Data Objectifications

AssigneeCarnegie Mellon University

InventorsJeffrey M. Rzeszotarski, Aniket D. Kittur

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Abstract

Methods and corresponding software for allowing a user to manipulate and interactively explore data intuitively by objectifying the data and allowing the user to apply any one or more simulated physical tools to the objectified data. The data can be any suitable type of data, including multivariate data and graph (network) data. In some embodiments, the method displays user-selected charts, such as histograms, scattergrams, and network graphs, in which objectified data points, or simulated physical objects, are attracted to their proper charted locations. In some embodiments, the user can apply one or more simulated physical tools and/or other tools, such as physical-barrier-type filter tools (e.g., sieves) and/or optical filter lens tools, to the simulated physical objects to filter the data. In some embodiments, the user can apply multiple tools, with each tool leaving a visual trace that allows the user to easily retrace their data manipulations.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A method of enabling a user to visualize a data set on a graphical display of a computing system, wherein the data set contains a plurality of records each having a plurality of attributes common to the plurality of records, the method comprising:

displaying, by the computing system, a physics-based sandbox on the graphical display;
objectifying, by the computing system, each of the plurality of records based on an attribute of the plurality of attributes so as to create a corresponding plurality of simulated physical objects;
displaying the simulated physical objects in the physics-based sandbox;
receiving, by the computing system, a user selection of a physics-based data-manipulation tool, wherein the physics-based data-manipulation tool invokes a physics-based interaction with one or more of the plurality of simulated physical objects, wherein the physics-based interaction is modeled by one or more physics-based modeling algorithms;
displaying a graphical representation of the physics-based data-manipulation tool in the physics-based sandbox;
determining, by the computing system, which one or more of the plurality of simulated physical objects experiences the physics-based interaction;
applying, by the computing system, the one or more physics modeling algorithms to each of the plurality of simulated physical objects determined to experience the physics-based interaction so as to determine at least one updated graphical representation for each of the one or more of the plurality of physical objects experiencing the physics-based interaction;
and
rendering each of the at least one updated graphical representation in the physics-based sandbox.

6 more elements

A machine-readable storage medium containing machine-executable instructions for performing a method of enabling a user to visualize a data set on a graphical display of a computing system, wherein the data set contains a plurality of records each having a plurality of attributes common to the plurality of records, said machine-executable instructions comprising:

a first set of machine-executable instructions for displaying, by the computing system, a physics-based sandbox on the graphical display;
a second set of machine-executable instructions for objectifying, by the computing system, each of the plurality of records based on an attribute of the plurality of attributes so as to create a corresponding plurality of simulated physical objects;
a third set of machine-executable instructions for displaying the simulated physical objects in the physics-based sandbox;
a fourth set of machine-executable instructions for receiving, by the computing system, a user selection of a physics-based data-manipulation tool, wherein the physics-based data-manipulation tool invokes a physics-based interaction with one or more of the plurality of simulated physical objects, wherein the physics-based interaction is modeled by one or more physics-based modeling algorithms;
a fifth set of machine-executable instructions for displaying a graphical representation of the physics-based data-manipulation tool in the physics-based sandbox;
a sixth set of machine-executable instructions for determining, by the computing system, which one or more of the plurality of simulated physical objects experiences the physics-based interaction;
a seventh set of machine-executable instructions for applying, by the computing system, the one or more physics modeling algorithms to each of the plurality of simulated physical objects determined to experience the physics-based interaction so as to determine at least one updated graphical representation for each of the one or more of the plurality of physical objects experiencing the physics-based interaction;
and
an eighth set of machine-executable instructions for rendering each of the at least one updated graphical representation in the physics-based sandbox.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/696,053Filed 24 Apr 2015
Priority: 24 Apr 2014
Published: 29 Oct 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06T 13/80
Animation: two-dimensional [2D] animation, e.g. using sprites
G06T 11/26
Drawing from basic elements: drawing of charts or graphs
G06T 13/20
Animation: three-dimensional [3D] animation
G06T 19/20
Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics: editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or…