EAGER: Comparative Visualization

可视化工具是许多用户处理复杂数据的重要组成部分。然而，在广泛的领域中的许多任务需要比较复杂的对象(图形、体积、时间序列、分子运动等)，虽然存在大量用于可视化单个对象的工具，但目前对其中两个或更多对象的比较几乎没有支持。PI认为，用专门为此目的设计的可视化工具和技术来处理复杂对象的视觉比较是最好的，但这种工具的设计具有挑战性，因为它给更一般的可视化问题增加了新的问题，而且随着可视化任务扩展到更大或更复杂的对象，或在更多对象之间进行比较，挑战也会增加。虽然有比较可视化工具的例子，但现有的解决方案是高度专业化的；它们在开发新工具或理解比较可视化的更一般问题方面提供的帮助有限。在这个探索性项目中，PI将迈出发展比较可视化科学的第一步。他将开发比较可视化系统作为案例研究，为更普遍的问题提供见解，并为新技术和评估提供试验台。他将开发一个视觉比较的概念框架，以编纂想法和原则，并将开发解决比较可视化中常见问题的新技术。PI打算开发的具体技术包括用于3D信息显示的制图原理、用于静态描述复杂运动的机制、配准的通用应用、用于并置显示的交互和自动视图控制以及用于数据抽象的通用方法。这些技术都是由比较可视化的一般需求驱动的，并建立在先前的技术开发和可视化原则的基础上。广泛的影响：通过提供所涉及的问题的一般分析，以及可视化工具设计的原则和指导方针，已知解决方案的分类和目录，以及解决常见问题的新技术，比较可视化科学将允许开发人员创建更好的、可能更通用的工具，这将影响科学、工程和医学的广泛学科。

Visualization tools are an essential part of how many users work with complex data. However, many of the tasks in a broad range of domains require comparing complex objects (graphs, volumes, time series, molecular motions, etc.), and while there exist a wealth of tools for visualizing individual objects there is little support at present for comparing two or more of them. The PI argues that the visual comparison of complex objects is best handled with visualization tools and techniques specifically designed for that purpose, but the design of such tools is challenging as it adds new issues to the more general visualization problems, and the challenges increase as the visualization tasks scale to larger or more complex objects, or to comparisons among larger numbers of objects. While there are examples of comparative visualization tools, existing solutions are highly specialized; they provide only limited help in developing new tools, or in understanding the more general problem of comparative visualization.In this exploratory project, the PI will take the first steps toward development of a science of comparative visualization. He will develop comparative visualization systems as case studies, providing insights into the more general problem as well as testbeds for new techniques and evaluation. He will develop a concept framework of visual comparison to codify ideas and principles, and he will develop new techniques that address issues common in comparative visualizations. Specific techniques the PI intends to develop include cartographic principles for informative display in 3D, mechanisms for the static depiction of complex motions, generalized applications of registration, interactive and automated view controls for juxtaposed displays, and generalized methods for data abstraction. These techniques are all motivated by general needs in comparative visualizations, and build upon prior technical developments and visual principles.Broader Impacts: By providing a general analysis of the issues involved, along with principles and guidelines for the design of visualization tools, a taxonomy and catalog of known solutions, and new techniques to address common problems, a science of comparative visualization will allow developers to create better, and possibly more general, tools, which will impact a wide range of disciplines in science, engineering, and medicine.