EXPLOR4: A Program for Exploring Four-Dimensional Data Using Stereo-Ray Glyphs, Dimensional Constraints, Rotation and Masking

摘要

This paper presents an approach to the visual exploration of four-dimensional data based on the representation of each data point using a single symbol, the stereo-ray glyph. The result is a three-dimensional scatterplot with ray angle showing the fourth coordinate. With this representation and tools for changing the view, local lower dimensionality and density anomalies can be identified. The tools have been integrated in a computer program called EXPLOR4. The tools include tracker-ball controlled three-dimensional rotation in a selected subspace and real-time mouse-controlled point masking. Masking criteria include point density, distance from a hyperplane and distance for a point. Point and subspace constraints required for the operations are provided through interactive graphical specification of four-dimensional point sets. (ERA citation 12:042888)