User-Oriented graph visualization taxonomy: A data-oriented examination of visual features

Abstract

Presenting information in a user-oriented way has a significant impact on the success and comprehensibility of data visualizations. In order to correctly and comprehensibly visualize data in a user-oriented way data specific aspects have to be considered. Furthermore, user-oriented perception characteristics are decisive for the fast and proper interpretation of the visualized data. In this paper we present a taxonomy for graph visualization techniques. On the one hand it provides the user-oriented identification of applicable visual features for given data to be visualized. On the other hand the set of visualization techniques is enclosed which supports these identified visual features. Thus, the taxonomy supports the development of user-oriented visualizations by examination of data to obtain a beneficial association of data to visual features. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.