Using Aging to Visually Uncover Evolutionary Processes on Networks

• Published in: IEEE transactions on visualization and computer graphics Vol. 18; no. 8; pp. 1343 - 1352
• Main Authors: Gorochowski, T. E., di Bernardo, M., Grierson, C. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.08.2012; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aging; Aging (natural); Algorithms; Animation; Color; Computer Communication Networks; Computer Simulation; Data visualization; Evolutionary; graph layout; Humans; information visualization; Layout; Markers; Models, Genetic; Network evolution; Networks; Social Support; Stability analysis; Stores; Time Factors; Visual; Visualization
• ISSN: 1077-2626; 1941-0506
• DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2011.142

Networks are widely used to describe many natural and technological systems. Understanding how these evolve over time poses a challenge for existing visualization techniques originally developed for fixed network structures. We describe a method of incorporating the concept of aging into evolving networks, where nodes and edges store information related to the amount of local evolutionary change they have experienced. This property is used to generate visualizations that ensure stable substructures maintain relatively fixed spatial positions, allowing them to act as visual markers and providing context for evolutionary change elsewhere. By further supplementing these visualizations with color cues, the resultant animations enable a clearer portrayal of the underlying evolutionary process.