Anthropomorphic visualization: a new approach for depicting participants in online spaces

ABSTRACT

Anthropomorphic visualization is a new approach to presenting historical information about participants in online spaces using the human form as the basis for the visualization. Various data about an individual's online behavior are mapped to different parts of a "body", resulting in an abstract yet humanoid representation of a person. We explain the details of the approach and make some initial observations about the visualization in use. We also discuss broader issues relating to presenting data that has been mined from individuals' messages, using the human form to depict this data, and evaluating visualizations used for social purposes.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces
          Subjects: Asynchronous interaction

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces
          Subjects: Collaborative computing

Keywords:
information visualization, social visualization, usenet, visual design