Agent-based annotation of interactive 3D visualizations

Abstract

This paper presents a novel real-time algorithm to integrate internal and external labels of arbitrary size into 3D visualizations. Moreover, comprehensive dynamic content can be displayed in annotation boxes. Our system employs multiple metrics in order to achieve an effective and aesthetic label layout with adjustable weights. The layout algorithm employs several heuristics to reduce the search space of a complex layout task. Initial layouts are refined by label agents, i.e., local strategies to optimize the layout and to minimize the flow of layout elements in subsequent frames. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.