François Guimbretière Constellation: A Visualization Tool for Linguistic Queries from MindNet Tamara Munzner François Guimbretière Stanford University George Robertson Microsoft Research

Overview solve specific problem chosen techniques help linguists improve MindNet algorithms chosen techniques custom semantic layout perceptual channels interaction as first-class citizen

Definition Graph dictionary entry sentence nodes: word senses links: relation types

Semantic Network definition graphs as building blocks unify shared words large network millions of nodes global structure known: dense probes return local info uses grammar checking, automatic translation

Path Query best N paths between two words words on path itself definition graphs used in computation

Task: Plausibility Checking paths ordered by computed plausibility researcher hand-checks results high-ranking paths believable? believable paths high-ranked? gross polluters (stop words)

Top 10 Paths: kangaroo - tail

Top 10 Paths: kangaroo - tail

Goal create unified view of relationships between paths and definition graphs shared words are key thousands of words (not millions) special-purpose algorithm debugging tool not understand the structure of English

Video zoom software vs. video

Semantic Layout Challenges spatial position encodes path ordering edge crossings not minimized clutter reduction: interaction, perceptual channels tradeoffs spatial encoding vs. information density navigation: intelligent zooming global, intermediate, local

only 9 or 10 words at once in multiscale view from thissnapshot final overview has about 80 - basically order of magnitude pure grid about 300

Color Scheme [Reynolds94] hues maximally separated on color wheel saturation/brightness low for unobtrusive, high for emphasis maximal CRT legibility black text on colored background high payoff from following recommendations in existing literature

Conclusion targeted case study techniques approach broadly applicable small user community techniques encode dataset structure spatially multiple perceptual channels interactive selective emphasis, navigation approach broadly applicable

Acknowledgements MSR linguists iterative design techniques discussion Lucy Vanderwende, Bill Dolan, Mo Corston-Oliver iterative design techniques Mary Czerwinski discussion Maneesh Agrawala, Pat Hanrahan, Chris Stolte, Terry Winograd funding Microsoft Graduate Research Fellowship, Interval Research http://graphics.stanford.edu/papers/const http://graphics.stanford.edu/~munzner/talks/vis99