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Found In Space

Gaining Overview and Knowledge from Complex Data: by 3-dimensional Relation Display

Übersicht und Wissen aus komplexen Daten gewinnen: durch 3-dimensionale Darstellung von Beziehungen

Origin

 Found-in-Space had been created by Boran Gögetap in order to visualize and better understand complex, relational business data. The name Found in Space indicates the opposite of losing overview, as it often is the case with vast amounts of data and the lack of adequate tools.

Input

 Found-in-Space uses data of nodes and edges, so-called graphs as input. See Wikipedia on the theory of graphs .

graph example

Example Image of a simple Graph

Beispielhafte Darstellung für einen einfachen Graph

Layout Processing

 Many types of relational data do not have a natural shape.

Probably the most unique feature in Found-in-Space is its layout algorithm, which shapes data that is otherwise shapeless. This feature can be seen as a sort of Morphogenesis (from the Greek morphê shape and genesis creation).

example image sequence of layout processing

animated sequence

 See also an animated version of this sequence at YouTube...

Layout Algorithm

 The layout processing algorithm works in an iterative manner. It starts with a random 3D location for each node of the input graph (first image above). Nodes are drifting away from each other (similar to antistatic force). Nodes are kept together by their connecting edges, which behave like rubber bands. After a couple of iterations (number depends on graph size), all movements tend to come to an end (last image above).

Output

 The result of layout processing is the 3D model of a shaped graph.

Found-in-Space implements an interactive 3D viewer (based on Java3D) where users can select and navigate nodes in detail, or look at the big picture of all nodes, from different perspectives.

Benefits
  • Meaningful Representation of Data (e.g. proximity of nodes, or central/marginal positions typically represent similar findings from the business domain of the graph's data)
  • Visual Analysis of Information (e.g. unexpected deviations from symmetry may indicate missing links)
  • Intuitive User Interface
  • Reproducible (identical graphs reproduce identical shapes; similar graphs produce similar shapes)
  • Always Up-to-Date (because layout happens automatically, no more tedious manual adjustment of connectors in 2D diagrams)
  • Flexible Input Source (can read flat files, SQL, UML, Excel and any JDBC or ODBC source)
  • Interoperates with BPMspace

Limitations

 Found-in-Space is not the ideal tool if any of these conditions apply:
  • the information focus is on details (attributes) of nodes (rather use 2D tables for this purpose)
  • the structure of the graph is a tree (rather use tree-controls, organigrams, mind map or other 2D tools)
  • you need a hardcopy or wallpaper (we are working on export interfaces into 2D tools so that the Found-in-Space layout can be re-used)
In general: if you cannot make use of the interactive nature of Found-in-Space (rotating, manipulating, investigating the 3D model), then a 2D tool is probably more appropriate for your purpose.

Demo for Use Case: Web Visits

 See a gallery of web visits, visualized by Found in Space for easy and intuitive analysis:

Training

 Found-in-Space is frequently used as a tool for Viewing and Analysing the CMDB content during our workshop:

ITIL CMDB Modellierung
1 Tag; € 1.008 - € 1.200 (1)

Further Reading

 For a deeper discussion of the Found-in-Space concept please see the whitepaper Found in Space — 3-dimensionale Anzeige für agile semantische Netze (German language)

Contacting an expert

 If you wish to visualize and analyse complex data in your own business domain, please contact the author: Boran Gögetap for assistance.

Kleingedrucktes

 (1) Preis pro Teil­ne­hmer zu­züg­lich MwSt; inklusive Schu­lungs­un­ter­la­gen, Mittag­essen und Pau­sen­ver­pfle­gung; Irrtum vorbehalten
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