Two-dimensional graphics
This program shows how a number of related variables may be displayed graphically, providing a "shape" to
the item they describe.
In this case, the item is a record album. A set of releases are shown, in order by their pofitability since release.
There are a number of expenses related to issuing an album, and these are shown plotted on each of
the four axes of a "radar" screen. The "shape" of the album comes from the relative size of each
of the associated expenses.
The shapes of the different types of releases quickly become apparent, and it should be easy
to determine which ones don't fit in, and need further investigation.
Click here to view the Radar demo:
Or just view the screen-shot
Three-dimensional graphics
This program demonstrates a screen to help monitor various emergency indicents which
are happening around a city. It illustrates the value of visualization in showing a number of different
pieces of information about each incident quickly. Information about an incident's
type, magnitude, location, priority, age, and status are coded into each form's size,
position on the map, color, distance behind the map, intensity and shape
(police shield, fire hose, car, terrorist bomb).
The current version shows one of each type of incident around Manhattan, New York City,
with the car symbol
representing a traffic incident at Times Square which has been reconciled and will soon
fade out in the distance behind the map. This version also shows the progression
of each incident over time, updating approximately every 20 seconds. Future versions
of the demo may have a dashboard to allow moving across or zooming in and
out of the map.
Click here to try the Emergency Incidents demo:
Or just view the screen-shot
The data for this program is a set of estimates. An estimate consists of some value coming in, some value going out, the name of the person making the estimate, the category being estimated and the estimate date. For purposes of the demo, it doesn't matter what is being estimated, but if this were a real report program, the data would be queried from a database or obtained from a real-time link from the system that collects these estimates.
The demo uses a canned set of estimates at startup and displays them in text format, as if it were a standard report. The "Visual" button displays the same data as a visualization, showing each row of the report as a set of 3 arrows (value-in, value-out, net). Although the demo shows the color of the net arrow as the relative net value (lowest is dark red, highest is dark blue, colors getting paler as the net moves toward the middle of the range), a real implementation would probaly show the color as representing how close each estimate was to "actual". You can switch back and forth from visual to text representation by pressing the same button.
A panel is provided, using the Data Entry button, to allow entry of more estimates. Please note that since this is a demo, the entry panel is quite primitive, and the data entered is not saved. For now, you must go back to the View panel and press the "Text" or "Visual" button again to show the results of the data you entered.
Use the arrow keys or the mouse to navigate around the visual set of estimates. Use the right mouse button to tilt the set or use the alt key with the mouse to zoom in or out.
Click here to try the Estimates demo:
Or just view the screen-shot
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The demos have been built in the Java[tm] programming language. In order to operate, the programs require your system to have Java2 support. Until Bill Gates implements the government's rule and ships Java support with Windows, you may need to download the latest Java2 Runtime Environment for your Operating System from Sun Microsystems at:
The programs showing 3D graphics use the Java3D extensions. In order to view these, you may need to download the latest Java3D runtime from:
Java 3D(TM) 1.3 - Download
Most Windows users will probably need the OpenGL version of the Runtime for the JRE.
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