CONTENTS -------- This file describes the contents of: https://ftp.isds.tugraz.at/pub/papers/ Research Papers --------------- (listed in reverse chronological order) chegini-pvast2019-ix-labelling.pdf Mohammad Chegini, Jürgen Bernard, Philip Berger, Alexei Sourin, Keith Andrews, Tobias Schreck "Interactive Labelling of a Multivariate Dataset for Supervised Machine Learning Using Linked Visualisations, Clustering, and Active Learning" Proc. Pacific VAST 2019 Bangkok, Thailand, 23 Apr 2019 [To appear] Visual Informatics, 2019 doi:10.1016/j.visinf.2019.03.002 [30 pages] Abstract: Supervised machine learning techniques require labelled multivariate training datasets. Many approaches address the issue of unlabelled datasets by tightly coupling machine learning algorithms with interactive visualisations. Using appropriate techniques, analysts can play an active role in a highly interactive and iterative machine learning process to label the dataset and create meaningful partitions. While this principle has been implemented either for unsupervised, semi-supervised, or supervised machine learning tasks, the combination of all three methodologies remains challenging. In this paper, a visual analytics approach is presented, combining a variety of machine learning capabilities with four linked visualisation views, all integrated within the mVis (multivariate Visualiser) system. The available palette of techniques allows an analyst to perform exploratory data analysis on a multivariate dataset and divide it into meaningful labelled partitions, from which a classifier can be built. In the workflow, the analyst can label interesting patterns or outliers in a semi-supervised process supported by active learning. Once a dataset has been interactively labelled, the analyst can continue the workflow with supervised machine learning to assess to what degree the subsequent classifier has effectively learned the concepts expressed in the labelled training dataset. Using a novel technique called automatic dimension selection, interactions the analyst had with dimensions of the multivariate dataset are used to steer the machine learning algorithms. A real-world football dataset is used to show the utility of mVis for a series of analysis and labelling tasks, from initial labelling through iterations of data exploration, clustering, classification, and active learning to refine the named partitions, to finally producing a high-quality labelled training dataset suitable for training a classifier. The tool empowers the analyst with interactive visualisations including scatterplots, parallel coordinates, similarity maps for records, and a new similarity map for partitions. chegini-iwait2019-second-device.pdf Mohammad Chegini, Keith Andrews, Tobias Schreck, and Alexei Sourin "Multiple Linked-View Exploration on Large Displays Facilitated by a Secondary Handheld Device" Proc. International Workshop on Advanced Image Technology (IWAIT 2019) Singapore, Singapore, 06 Jan 2019 Proc. of SPIE, Vol. 11049 doi:10.1117/12.2521648 [6 pages] Abstract: Large displays are capable of visualising a large amount of data on multiple views including scatterplots and parallel coordinates and are often present in meeting rooms. They can be used to interact with a dataset and foster discussion among team members. Although some of these large screens have multi-touch capabilities, in many cases it is cumbersome to have to stand close to the display in order to interact with it. One of the solutions is to use a small handheld display to interact with the large display. This paper discusses how traditional interactions such as selection, brushing, and linking can be performed using a secondary handheld device. As a proof of concept, a system including scatterplots and parallel coordinates views is implemented. The interactions are straightforward and are useful for any interactive visual analysis application on a large display with wireless connectivity. feiner-vissoft2018-repovis.pdf Johannes Feiner and Keith Andrews "RepoVis: Visual Overviews and Full-Text Search in Software Repositories" Proc. 6th IEEE Working Conference on Software Visualization (VISSOFT 2018), Madrid, Spain, 24 Sep 2018. doi:10.1109/VISSOFT.2018.00009 [11 pages] Abstract: Project managers and software developers often have difficulty maintaining an overview of the structure, evolution, and status of collaborative software projects. Some tools are available for typical source code management systems, which provide summary statistics or simple visual representations of merge-branch graphs. However, comprehensive visual overview and search facilities for such repositories are lacking. RepoVis is a new tool which provides comprehensive visual overviews and full-text search for projects maintained in Git repositories. The overview shows folders, files, and lines of code colour-coded according to last modification, developer, file type, or associated issues. Full-text searches can be performed for terms of interest within source code files, commit messages, or any associated metadata or usability findings, with matches displayed visually in the overview. The utility of the RepoVis approach is illustrated with three use cases of real-world software inspection. Insights are presented into the utility of full-text search and visual presentation of matches for program comprehension. chegini-eurovis2018-sp-patterns.pdf "Interactive Visual Exploration of Local Patterns in Large Scatterplot Spaces" Mohammad Chegini, Lin Shao, Robert Gregor, Dirk J. Lehmann, Keith Andrews, and Tobias Schreck Proc. 20th Eurographics / VGTC Conference on Visualization (EuroVis 2018), Brno, Czech Republic, 04 Jun 2018. doi:10.1111/cgf.13404 [11 pages] Abstract: Analysts often use visualisation techniques like a scatterplot matrix (SPLOM) to explore multivariate datasets. The scatterplots of a SPLOM can help to identify and compare two-dimensional global patterns. However, local patterns which might only exist within subsets of records are typically much harder to identify and may go unnoticed among larger sets of plots in a SPLOM. This paper explores the notion of local patterns and presents a novel approach to visually select, search for, and compare local patterns in a multivariate dataset. Model-based and shape-based pattern descriptors are used to automatically compare local regions in scatterplots to assist in the discovery of similar local patterns. Mechanisms are provided to assess the level of similarity between local patterns and to rank similar patterns effectively. Moreover, a relevance feedback module is used to suggest potentially relevant local patterns to the user. The approach has been implemented in an interactive tool and demonstrated with two real-world datasets and use cases. It supports the discovery of potentially useful information such as clusters, functional dependencies between variables, and statistical relationships in subsets of data records and dimensions. andrews-mobilevis2018-respvis.pdf Keith Andrews "Responsive Visualisation" CHI 2018 Workshop on Data Visualization on Mobile Devices (MobileVis 2018), Montréal, Québec, Canada, 21 Apr 2018. https://mobilevis.github.io/assets/mobilevis2018_paper_4.pdf [6 pages] Abstract: Responsive web design allows web pages and web apps to be assembled from flexible components, which can adapt to the constraints and opportunities of the display device. This paper looks at how the principles of responsive web design can be applied to five commonly used web-based data visualisations: line chart, bar chart, parallel coordinates, scatterplot, and choropleth map. Interactive examples are provided. feiner-iceis2018-qac.pdf Johannes Feiner, Elmar Krainz, and Keith Andrews "A New Approach to Visualise Accessibility Problems of Mobile Apps in Source Code" Proc. 20th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS 2018), pages 519-526. Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, 21 Mar 2018. doi:10.5220/0006704405190526 [8 pages] Abstract: A wide range of software development is moving to the direction and domain of mobile applications. Single developer or small teams create apps for smartphones. Too often, they have not the capacity or know-how to check for usability problems and do not care for accessibility. We propose a novel workflow to bring usability issues into the development process: A quick accessibility evaluation (QAC) with 15 predefined metrics allow to collect issues. These issues are further condensed into formalised (UsabML) and the issues are tagged with the location in the source code. A dashboard view (RepoVis) showing the source code from a repository allows to spot and interactively inspect code and related issues simultaneously. andrews-eurovis2017-rdv.pdf Keith Andrews and Aleš Smrdel "Responsive Data Visualisation" Eurographics Conference on Visualization (EuroVis 2017), Posters Track Barcelona, Spain, 12 Jun 2017. doi:10.2312/eurp.20171182 [3 pages] Abstract: In responsive web design, web pages are assembled from flexible components which adapt to the characteristics of the display device. For web pages to be truly responsive, any charts or visualisations embedded within them must themselves be responsive. This paper looks at the principles of responsive web design as applied to web-based information visualisations. Approaches are presented through which four commonly used visualisations (line chart, bar chart, parallel coordinates, and scatterplot) can be made responsive. andrews-eurovis2016-svv.pdf Keith Andrews, Thomas Traunmüller, Thomas Wolkinger, Eva Goldgruber, Robert Gutounig, and Julian Ausserhofer "Styrian Diversity Visualisation: Visualising Statistical Open Data with a Lean Web App and Data Server", Eurographics Conference on Visualization (EuroVis 2016), Posters Track Groningen, Netherlands. 06 Jun 2016. doi:10.2312/eurp.20161150 [3 pages] Abstract: Statistical open data is usually provided only in the form of spreadsheets or CSV files. The developers of open data apps must either restrict themselves to managable bite-sized chunks of data, which can be consumed (read, parsed, and held in memory) in one go, or must install and maintain their own data server which the app can query on demand. The Styrian Diversity Visualisation (in German “Steirische Vielfalt Visualisiert” or SVV) project demonstrates the use of a dedicated data server (triple store) to host large amounts of statistical open data. The SVV web app queries the data server dynamically using SPARQL queries to obtain exactly the data required at that particular time, greatly simplifying its internal logic. There is no need to parse and store entire data sets in memory. andrews-eurovis2014-fd.pdf Keith Andrews and Benedict Wright "FluidDiagrams: Web-Based Information Visualisation using JavaScript and WebGL" Eurographics Conference on Visualization (EuroVis 2014), Swansea, Wales, UK. 09 Jun 2014. doi:10.2312/eurovisshort.20141155 [5 pages] Abstract: Much attention has been focused on the provision of information graphics and visualisations inside a web browser. Currently available infovis toolkits produce graphical output by either injecting SVG nodes into the DOM or using the JavaScript Canvas 2D API. FluidDiagrams is a prototype information visualisation framework written in JavaScript which uses the WebGL 3D JavaScript API for its output, falling back to Canvas 2D as necessary, via the Three.js library. Six visualisations are currently implemented: bar chart and line chart, scatter plot and parallel coordinates for multidimensional data, and cone tree and hyperbolic for hierarchies. Anecdotally, visualisations using SVG nodes in the DOM for output can become rather sluggish when displaying more than a few dozen items. Visualisations using Canvas 2D exhibit similarly slow performance. WebGL utilises hardware acceleration where available and promises much better performance for complex visualisations, potentially in the order of many thousands of items without becoming unresponsive. A comparison of parallel coordinates visualisations with 100 records in 20 dimensions compared three implementations: FluidDiagrams (WebGL), FluidDiagrams (Canvas 2D), and D3 (using SVG nodes). They achieved 62, 6, and 10 frames per second respectively. The FluidDiagrams (WebGL) implementation was able to render 1,000 records in 20 dimensions at 18 frames per second, compared to 1 and 6 respectively. andrews-iv2010-ld.pdf Keith Andrews and Martin Lessacher: "Liquid Diagrams: Information Visualisation Gadgets" 14th International Conference on Information Visualisation (IV'10), London, UK. 26 Jul 2010. doi:10.1109/IV.2010.100 [6 pages] Abstract: Information visualisation techniques have sometimes been slow to diffuse into more widespread public use. Recent advances in cloud computing have opened up opportunities to bring information visualisation to the masses in ways previously not possible. Liquid diagrams are a suite of information visualisation gadgets written in Flex, which visualise live data contained in Google Docs spreadsheets through the Google Visualization API. Users can interactively configure the visualisation and any changes in the online spreadsheet data are reflected immediately in the display. In contrast to other solutions, liquid diagrams gadgets specifically support the printing and export of both vector (SVG) and raster (PNG) graphics versions of the visualisations, allowing users to construct and export high-quality diagrams for inclusion into other works. The suite of visualisation gadgets currently available includes: area charts, bar charts, heat maps (choropleths), line charts, pie charts, treemaps, and parallel coordinates plots. Star plots and voronoi treemaps are coming soon. andrews-beliv08.pdf Keith Andrews: "Evaluation Comes in Many Guises" Revised Position Paper, BELIV'08 Workshop, CHI 2008, Florence, Italy. 05 Apr 2008. [3 pages] Abstract: As the information visualisation (infovis) community matures, the evaluation of information visualisation techniques is becoming more of a requirement and less of an optional extra. Unfortunately, the term evaluation means different things to different people. Simply encouraging "evaluation" is too general and imprecise. There is a need for clarification as to what kind of evaluation is expected at what stage. When reporting their work, authors should clearly distinguish between exploratory, predictive, formative, and summative evaluation. andrews-beliv2006.pdf Keith Andrews: "Evaluating Information Visualisations" Position Paper, BELIV 2006 Workshop, AVI 2006, Venice, Italy 23 May 2006. doi:10.1145/1168149.1168151 [5 pages] Abstract: As more experience is being gained with the evaluation of information visualisation interfaces, weaknesses in current evaluation practice are coming to the fore. This position paper presents an overview of currently used evaluation methods, followed by a discussion of my experiences and lessons learned from a series of studies comparing hierarchy browsers. uidis2001.pdf Keith Andrews, Christian Guetl, Josef Moser, Vedran Sabol, and Wilfried Lackner: "Search Result Visualisation with xFIND". Proc. Second International Workshop on User Interfaces to Data Intensive Systems (UIDIS 2001), Zurich, Switzerland, May 2001. doi:10.1109/UIDIS.2001.929925 Abstract: The xFIND gatherer-broker architecture provides a wealth of metadata, can be used to provide sophisticated search functionality. Local or remote documents are indexed and summaries and metadata are stored on an xFIND broker (server). An xFIND client can search a particular broker and access rich metadata for search result presentation, without having to fetch the original documents themselves. Search result sets are not only presented as a traditional ranked list, but also in an interactive scatterplot (Search Result Explorer) and using dynamic thematic clustering (VisIslands). ivis98.pdf Keith Andrews and Helmut Heidegger: "Information Slices: Visualising and Exploring Large Hierarchies using Cascading, Semi-Circular Discs", Late Breaking Hot Topic Paper, IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization (InfoVis'98), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Oct. 1998. Abstract: This paper presents work in progress on a new technique for visualising and manipulating large hierarchies. The information slices approach compactly visualises hierarchical structures using a series of semi-circular discs. The technique is described in the context of our early experience with a prototype file system visualiser based on information slices. webnet98.pdf Thomas Dietinger, Christian Guetl, Hermann Maurer, Maja Pivec, Klaus Schmaranz: "Intelligent Knowledge Gathering and Management as New Ways of an Improved Learning Process", Proc. WebNet98, Orlando, Florida, Nov. 1998. Abstract: This paper gives a short description of a working prototype of an intelligent background knowledge broker as an enhancement module of the Web base training system GENTLE [Maurer and Dietinger 97a, Dietinger and Maurer 98a]. The dynamic and the static library represent a most relevant knowledge repository, which is automatically enlarged and improved by the users themselves according to their needs. The gained relevant information is used to improve the learning process and to support the courseware authoring. icce98.pdf Christian Guetl, Thomas Dietinger, Dietmar Neussl, Bernhard Knoegler, Klaus Schmaranz: "Dynamic Background Libraries as an improved Way for Web-Based Learning using HIKS (Hierarchical Interactive Knowledge System)", ICCE'98, Beijing, China, Oct. 1998. Abstract: This paper describes in brief HIKS, a working prototype of a Web-based interactive knowledge system which could be perfectly used as a dynamic background library in a web based training environment. Experience in the field of web based learning at the IICM had shown that courseware and static background library only does not satisfy the courseware and the learners needs. A additional dynamic background library will provide additional knowledge which will always guarantee up-to-date background knowledge. Relevant knowledge spaces from the biggest knowledge store, the Internet, will be extracted by HIKS. The core of this system is a sophisticated information gatherer and knowledge area broker system which will be combined with a Hyperwave-based web based training system. This paper describes the technique of the gatherer and broker and its interaction to the learning process as well as to the possibility to produce new courseware. Then experiences from working with the system will be discussed. Furthermore a way to build up knowledge hierarchy to specific topics and co-operations between organisations is shown. vrml98.pdf Keith Andrews, Andreas Pesendorfer, Michael Pichler, Karl Heinz Wagenbrunn, and Josef Wolte: "Looking Inside VRwave: The Architecture and Interface of the VRwave VRML97 Browser" Proc. of VRML'98, Monterey, California, February 1998. [6 pages] doi:10.1145/271897.274374 Abstract: This paper presents an inside look into the VRwave VRML97 browser, discussing its internal architecture and some of the insights we have gained during its development. VRwave is written largely in Java and is freely available in source code. A Java layer atop OpenGL provides 3D graphics output. In terms of look and feel, VRwave has a similar interface to the VRweb VRML 1.0 browser. VRwave also supports the Java External Authoring Interface (EAI), allowing it to be driven by an external program. vis97.pdf Keith Andrews, Josef Wolte, and Michael Pichler: "Information Pyramids: A New Approach to Visualising Large Hierarchies". Late Breaking Hot Topics Proc., IEEE Visualization'97, Phoenix, Arizona, Oct. 1997, pp. 49--52. [4 pages] Abstract: This paper presents work in progress on a new technique for visualising and manipulating large hierarchies. The Information Pyramids approach compactly visualises hierarchical structures in three dimensions using pyramid-like structures, which grow upwards as the hierarchy is descended. The technique is described in the context of our early experience with a prototype file system visualiser based on Information Pyramids. ivis96.pdf Keith Andrews, Michael Pichler, and Peter Wolf: "Towards Rich Information Landscapes for Visualising Structured Web Spaces" Proc. of 2nd IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization, InfoVis '96, San Francisco, CA, Oct. 1996. [2 pages] doi:10.1109/INFVIS.1996.559218 Abstract: The Harmony browser for the Hyper-G Web server utilises Hyper-G's rich data model to provide a number of tightly-coupled, two- and three-dimensional visualisation and navigational facilities. In particular, the Harmony Information Landscape visualises the hierarchical structure of Hyper-G spaces upon a plane in three-dimensional space. The Harmony Information Landscape has now been extended to display a combined structure and link map by selectively superimposing hyperlink relationships in the vertical dimension above and below the hierarchy map. In addition, documents returned by search queries may be selectively ``plotted'' in the landscape, indicating their whereabouts in a broader context, and several sets of 3d icons are available for representing the various document types. vrml95.pdf Michael Pichler, Gerbert Orasche, Keith Andrews, Ed Grossman, and Mark McCahill; "VRweb: A Multi-System VRML Viewer"; To appear in Proceedings of The First Annual Symposium on the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML 95), San Diego, California, December 1995. doi:10.1145/217306.217317 [9 pages] Abstract: As VRML becomes *the* standard for describing 3D scenes on the Internet, many VRML viewers are being developed with proprietary interests or for specific target systems or protocols. VRweb is a VRML viewer providing the same user interface for multiple Web protocols (WWW, Gopher, and Hyper-G) and multiple platforms (Unix, Windows, and Macintosh) and is available as both binary and source code. VRweb source code is copyrighted, but is freely available for non-commercial use, providing a platform for research and experiment. Unlike other VRML viewers available in source code, VRweb does *not* require additional commercial libraries like OpenInventor or Motif, it is based entirely on freely available software components. A short overview of currently available VRML browsers is followed by a more detailed look at VRweb, including its user interface, multi-system nature, and software architecture. ivis95.pdf Keith Andrews; "Visualising Cyberspace: Information Visualisation in the Harmony Internet Browser"; Proc. of First IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization, Atlanta, GA, USA. Oct 1995. doi:10.1109/INFVIS.1995.528692 [8 pages] Abstract: The explosive growth of information systems on the Internet has clearly demonstrated the need to organise, filter, and present information in ways which allow users to cope with the sheer quantities of information available. The scope for visualisation of Gopher and WWW spaces is restricted by the limitations of their respective data models. The far richer data model supported by the Hyper-G Internet information system is exploited by its Harmony client to provide a number of tightly-coupled, two- and three-dimensional visualisation and navigational facilities, which help provide location feedback and alleviate user disorientation. chi95.pdf Keith Andrews, Frank Kappe, and Hermann Maurer; "Hyper-G and Harmony: Towards the Next Generation of Networked Information Technology"; Formal Demo Summary, CHI'95 Conference Companion, Denver, USA. May 1995. doi:10.1145/223355.223412 [2 pages] Abstract: Current networked information systems on the Internet, whilst extremely successful, run into problems of fragmentation, consistency, scalability, and loss of orientation. The development of "second generation" networked information systems, such as Hyper-G and its Harmony client, can help overcome these limitations. Of particular note are Hyper-G's tightly-coupled structuring, linking, and search facilities, its projection of a seamless information space across server boundaries with respect to each of these facilities, and its support for multiple languages. Harmony utilises two and three-dimensional visualisations of the information space and couples location feedback to search and link browsing operations, in order to reduce the likelihood of disorientation. www95.pdf Keith Andrews, Frank Kappe, and Hermann Maurer; "Serving Information to the Web with Hyper-G"; To appear in Computer Networks and ISDN Systems, Vol. 27, No. 6, April 1995, Proc. Third International World-Wide Web Conference, WWW'95, Darmstadt, Germany, April 1995. Abstract: The provision and maintenance of truly large-scale information resources on the World-Wide Web necessitates server architectures offering substantially more functionality than simply serving HTML files from the local file system and processing CGI requests. This paper describes Hyper-G, a large-scale, multi-protocol, distributed, hypermedia information system which uses an object-oriented database layer to provide information structuring and link maintenance facilities in addition to fully integrated attribute and content search, a hierarchical access control scheme, support for multiple languages, interactive link editing, and point-and-click document insertion. p-flood.pdf Frank Kappe: "A Scalable Architecture for Maintaining Referential Integrity in Distributed Information Systems", J.UCS, Vol. 1, No. 2, February 1995. Abstract: One of the problems that we experience with today's most widespread Internet Information Systems (like WWW or Gopher) is the lack of support for maintaining referential integrity. Whenever a resource is (re)moved, dangling references from other resources may occur. This paper presents a scalable architecture for automatic maintenance of referential integrity in large (thousands of servers) distributed information systems. A central feature of the proposed architecture is the p-flood algorithm, which is a scalable, robust, prioritizable, probabilistic server-server protocol for efficient distribution of update information to a large collection of servers. The p-flood algorithm is now implemented in the Hyper-G system, but may in principle also be implemented as an add-on for existing WWW and Gopher servers. dms94.pdf Keith Andrews, Frank Kappe, and Hermann Maurer; "The Hyper-G Network Information System"; J.UCS, Vol. 1, No. 4, April 1995, Special Issue: Selected Proceedings of the Workshop on Distributed Multimedia Systems, Graz, Austria, Nov. 1994. [15 pages] Abstract: As the Internet continues to experience exponential rates of growth, attention is shifting away from mainstream network services such as electronic mail and file transfer to more interactive information services. Current network information systems, whilst extremely successful, run into problems of fragmentation, consistency, scalability, and loss of orientation. The development of "second generation" network information systems such as Hyper-G can help overcome these limitations. Of particular note are Hyper-G's tightly-coupled structuring, linking, and search facilities, its projection of a seamless information space across server boundaries with respect to each of these facilities, and its support for multiple languages. The Harmony client for Hyper-G utilises two and three-dimensional visualisations of the information space and couples location feedback to search and link browsing operations, in order to reduce the likelihood of disorientation. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of Hyper-G and Harmony. report388.pdf Kappe F., Andrews K., Faschingbauer J., Gaisbauer M., Pichler M., Schipflinger J.: "Hyper-G: A New Tool for Distributed Hypermedia". Abstract: This paper describes Hyper-G, a new hypermedia information system which combines the best of Gopher, WAIS, and World Wide Web. Hyper-G is specifically designed as a distributed, large-scale hypermedia information system supporting navigation in a large body of dynamically changing information without becoming ``lost in hyperspace''. Users may choose a hierarchical navigation paradigm, click on hyper-links, go on guided tours, or perform variable-scope searches. This paper presents Hyper-G from the user's perspective, outlines the basic architecture of the system, and describes its interaction with existing distributed information retrieval tools like Gopher, WAIS, and World Wide Web. em94.pdf Keith Andrews, Frank Kappe, and Jürgen Schipflinger: "Harmony: A Tool for Navigating Through Deep Hyperspace"; Proc.\ World Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia (ED-MEDIA 94), Vancouver, Canada, Jun 1994, page 627. egmm94.pdf Andrews K. and Kappe F.: "Soaring Through Hyperspace: A Snapshot of Hyper-G and its Harmony Client"; to appear in Proc. of Eurographics Symposium and Workshop on Multimedia: Multimedia/Hypermedia in Open Distributed Environments, Graz, Austria, June 1994. Abstract: This paper describes the current status of work on Hyper-G and its new viewer, Harmony. Hyper-G is a general-purpose, large-scale, distributed hypermedia information system under development at Graz University of Technology. It is based on the client-server model across the Internet and is interoperable with both Gopher and World Wide Web. Harmony is the new native Hyper-G client for X Windows on Unix platforms. It takes advantage of Hyper-G's structuring and retrieval features to provide both intuitive navigational facilities and informative feedback about the location of information. mhvr94.pdf Andrews K. and Pichler M.: "Hooking Up 3-Space: Three-Dimensional Models as Fully-Fledged Hypermedia Documents"; to appear in Proc. of East-West International Conference on Multimedia, Hypermedia, and Virtual Reality, Moscow, Sept. 94. Abstract: This paper examines the incorporation of three-dimensional models into hypermedia systems as fully-fledged documents. Their use provides hypermedia authors with an additional, powerful means of presentation. Display, linking, navigational, and authoring aspects of 3D hypermedia documents are discussed and are illustrated with examples taken from the Harmony Viewer for the Hyper-G hypermedia information system. vrv93.pdf Andrews K.: Constructing Cyberspace: Virtual Reality and Hypermedia. Presented at Virtual Reality Vienna '93. Abstract: Large-scale, distributed hypermedia information systems allow fast, structured access to very large, dynamic information bases. The highly perceptual nature of a virtual reality interface has the power to take users both inside information and inside its structure. Combining the two takes us a step towards cyberspace, William Gibson's vision of a virtual model of all the world's interconnected data. This paper reviews current work on the boundary of virtual reality and hypermedia. inet93.pdf Kappe F.: Hyper-G: A Distributed Hypermedia System. Proc. INET '93, San Francisco, California, pp. DCC-1--DCC-9 (Aug. 1993). Abstract: Hyper-G is a general-purpose, large-scale, distributed hypermedia system currently developed at the Graz University at Technology. It was designed for handling large amounts of multimedia data, and care has been taken to provide mechanisms for automatic maintenance of a dynamically changing body of information, advanced user interface features, and efficient use of network and computing resources. While Hyper-G was originally designed to run in fast, local-area networks, this paper shows how Hyper-G is currently being transformed into a global hypermedia information system distributed over Internet that retains Hyper-G's advanced functionality such as automatic link generation and maintenance, navigation facilities, access rights, and distributed searching, and makes efficient use of network bandwidth by extensive caching. hyper3d.pdf Andrews K.: Hooking Up 3-Space: Adding the Third Dimension to Hypermedia. Unpublished paper, 9th April 1993. Abstract: This paper examines some of the issues involved in incorporating three-dimensional scenes as nodes in hypermedia systems. A general outline is followed by specific consideration of two user interface issues: the definition and representation of link anchors and the provision of appropriate navigation metaphors within a 3D hypermedia node. Preliminary results from a prototype implementation of 3D hypermedia nodes are presented, in particular: four methods of highlighting anchor objects and three navigational metaphors. The paper concludes with a short discussion of authoring 3D hypermedia documents. report364.pdf This file contains the paper "Hyper-G: A Large Universal Hypermedia System and Some Spin-Offs" that has appeared in ACM SIGGRAPH's experimental special online issue of "Computer Graphics" (May 1993) and can be retrieved by anonymous ftp from host siggraph.org in directory publications/May_93_online/Kappe.Maurer. Abstract: The incremental implementation of a thoroughly modular, large, networked hypermedia system called Hyper-G has been in progress in our research institutes in Graz for a number of years. By incremental we mean that certain parts of the system are not only working but are in actual use, while others are still in the process of being tested, developed or even specified. As additional modules become available they will improve current possibilities or add new functionality. Despite the fact that Hyper-G is a Unix-based networked system some parts of it can and have been ported to stand-alone PC platforms. In this paper we will first briefly describe Hyper-G, will then detail a few of the more unusual characteristics of it and will also explain a number of stand-alone applications that have become important on their own, mainly in the area of electronic publishing. Note: The whole paper is one large postscript file (~10MB uncompressed). If you want to look at the color images, you are probably better off accessing siggraph.org, or look at the electronic hypertext version that is contained on the Hyper-G server of Graz University of Technology. report363.pdf Kappe F., Maurer H.: From Hypertext to Active Communication/Information Systems. IIG Report 364, IIG, Graz University of Technology, Austria, June 1993. Abstract: In this paper we advocate the integration of advanced communication facilities into a distributed hypermedia system. We will first develop a set of user requirements and then come up with a simple design based on three orthogonal concepts (annotation, active collections, and active documents) that can be used to implement the required features in a certain implementation of a distributed hypermedia system (Hyper-G). We also show how allowing to apply the three concepts to every object of the information space (as implied by the principle of orthogonality) transforms the passive information system into an ``active communication/information system'' in which the user is not only able to contribute to the information body, but also to let the system actively seek and deliver information according to the user's interests. report341.pdf Kappe F., Pani G.: The Architecture of a Massively Distributed Hypermedia System. IIG Report 341, IIG, Graz University of Technology, Austria, Sept. 1991. Abstract: For about 50 years computer science pioneers have dreamt of augmenting their intellect by sharing the collective knowledge of individuals with each other through a global network of machines. However, until recently the technology to implement such a "global information system" was not available at reasonable cost. We believe that today's technology and concepts would allow to create an ambitious information and communication system based on hypermedia principles that would be massively distributed (i.e. over the whole world). This paper first compares the old visions with systems that are available today. Then we describe the architecture of a global, general-purpose hypermedia system in an evolutionary way, i.e. we show how it can be developed using techniques already explored by existing projects. The resulting global information system is specifically designed to operate in the real-world environment of the internet and makes efficient use of its structure. Note: has appeared in "Internet Research: Electronic Networking Applications and Policy", 3(1): 10-24. report333.txt Kappe F., Maurer H., Sherbakov N.: Hyper-G - A Universal Hypermedia System. IIG Report 333, IIG, Graz University of Technology, Austria, June 1991. Abstract: Hyper-G is the name of an ambitious hypermedia project currently being developed as a joint effort by a number of institutes of the IIG (Institutes for Information-Processing Graz) of the Technical University of Graz and the Austrian Computer Society. Hyper-G is conceived as a Universal Hypermedia System. Hypertext and hypermedia systems were envisioned by pioneers like Bush, Engelbart and Nelson as one way of obtaining easy to use universal information systems. Hyper-G will be the basis of a University Information System which combines concepts of information retrieval systems, documentation systems, communication and collaboration, and computer supported teaching and learning. This article focuses on the applications of hypermedia technology in university environments, and describes the ideas and concepts behind Hyper-G as far as they are related to the university applications domain. Note: Has appeared in the Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia 2(1):39-66. For copyright reasons, we only offer the plain text without images and formatting for anon-ftp. report308.pdf Kappe F.: Aspects of a Modern Multi-Media Information System. IIG Report 308, IIG, Graz University of Technology, Austria, June 1991. Abstract: This thesis describes a new, large-scale Hypermedia project ('Hyper-G') currently being developed at the Institute for Foundations of Information Processing and Computer Supported New Media (Head: Professor Hermann Maurer) of the Technical University of Graz. Experience gathered from modern Hypermedia systems, large-scale information systems, computer aided instruction and user interface design considerations led to a number of ideas, features, and examples of applications of Hyper-G. They were condensed, put into a logical relationship, and used to formulate a set of requirements. The requirements, additional design decisions, and a discussion of implementation-related issues are part of this thesis. Also, a new concept for the creation of real-time, interactive animation is presented. It is essentially a combination of Computer Animation and Hypermedia technologies, therefore it is called ``Hyper-Animation''. This concept is also the basis of some of the more advanced applications of Hyper-G that are described in this thesis. Applications range from information systems and electronic publishing to exhibits that may be found in a virtual museum or exhibition environment. 163 pages. Note: Reprint of Ph.D. Thesis of F. Kappe. report284.pdf Kappe F., Maurer H., Tomek I.: Hyper-G: Specification of Requirements. IIG Report 284, IIG, Graz University of Technology, Austria, April 1991. Abstract: Hyper-G is the name of an ambitious Hypermedia project currently being developed as a joint effort by a number of institutes of the IIG (Institutes for Information-Processing Graz) of the Technical University of Graz (yes, the 'G' in Hyper-G stands for Graz) and the Austrian Computer Society. Study of modern hypermedia systems, information systems, and user interfaces lead to a number of ideas, features, and examples of applications of Hyper-G. They were condensed, put into a logical relationship, and now form a framework of requirements that is contained in this report. The requirements may also be seen as a description of Hyper-G's features. Care has been taken to isolate requirements from implementation details, design decisions, examples and applications of Hyper-G. 25 pages. Note: Is a subset of report #308. report266.pdf Kappe F.: Picture Interchange Coding (PIC); Functional Specification and Encoding of Profile '2D'. IIG Report 266, IIG, Graz University of Technology, Austria, February 1989. Abstract: This documentation contains detailed specification of the Picture Interchange Coding (PIC) file format. PIC is a flexible format suitable for the encoding of graphical and related data. The PIC data format has been designed for and is used in conjunction with EDEN-based interactive graphics editors. It is also used as the image format of the 'Hyper-G' project. The functional specification is closely related to that of CGM, CGI and PHIGS. The document presents an overview of the basic concepts of EDEN and PIC, the functional specification of PIC, and the coding specification of profile '2D'. 60 pages.