cs5984: Information Visualization

Homework #2:  Visualization Design

Visualizing Timed Paths,  aka The Bus Schedule Problem

Due:  Thurs March 1, in class.

The goal of this homework is to gain practice in designing new visualizations for new problems by rapid brainstorming and sketching.  Your assignment is to produce a design for a visualization of timed paths.  The research literature is remarkably silent on this particular problem.

The data:  The general problem is as follows.  There are a number of objects moving in space.  The spatial path and timing schedule for the movement of each object is known.  An example of this problem is a bus route schedule for several buses.  Circular routes may repeat many times, possibly with variations in the exact route and schedule.  You should assume several moving objects (those of you up to a challenge should consider the case of very many moving objects).  You may assume movement in 2D space if you like, but no less than 2D.

The tasks:  Your visualization should help users understand the routes and schedules and interplay between objects.  Typical questions might include:  

What to hand in:  About 2 pages describing your proposed solution visualization as follows:

How you will be graded:  The criteria for grading are:

!Important:  Focus your time on thinking and dreaming up designs.  Don't waste your time trying to draw it in powerpoint or making it functional.