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

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

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

4. 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

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

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

7. Top 10 Paths: kangaroo - tail

8. Top 10 Paths: kangaroo - tail

9. 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

10. Semantic Layout reflect dataset characteristics
path ordering as backbone
fill in definition graphs

11. Semantic Layout
“plausibility gradient”

12. Semantic Layout
“plausibility gradient”
horizontal position

13. Semantic Layout
“plausibility gradient”
horizontal position
size

14. Semantic Layout
edge crossings not minimized

15. Semantic Layout edge crossings not minimized
false attachment solved with interactive selective emphasis

16. Perceptual Channels redundant combinations layout gradient
synergy from multiple codings
layout gradient
spatial position, word size
quantitative

17. Perceptual Channels highlighting: visual popout ordered saturation
brightness
linewidth
ordered
although binary

18. Perceptual Channels highlighting: visual popout ordered saturation
brightness
linewidth
ordered
although binary

19. Perceptual Channels hue relation types word types selective (nominal)
green: part-of
red: is-a
cyan: modifier
word types
yellow: path
green: definition graph
blue: leaf
selective (nominal)

20. Perceptual Channels orientation relation types selective (nominal)
axis-aligned: local
slanted: long distance
between instances of same word
selective (nominal)

21. Perceptual Channels enclosure
definition graphs associated with path word
hierarchy

22. Interaction
see video

23. Video
zoom
software vs. video

24. 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

25. 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

27. Semantic Layout Challenges
navigation
intelligent zooming
global
path structure overview
intermediate
association of path word and definition graphs
local
read single definition graph

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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