[topicmapmail] Plumb Visual Thesaurus Redesigned

[Steve Pepper]

At 10:10 29.10.2002 +0100, Rath, Holger (empolis DA) wrote:
>Concerning the graphical visualization of Plumb
>Design, I have to say that it is - for sure - an
>eye catcher. But it is not really easy and efficient
>to use. I prefer the StarTree from inxight much more.
>It does not look that sexy but offers many advantages.
>BTW: That's the reason why we integrated it into k42 -
>our Topic Map engine.

It would be interesting to know what you believe those
advantages are. So far I haven't been very impressed by
StarTree (or any other graphic visualization of topic
maps).

I wouldn't say that StarTree is any easier or more efficient
to use than ThinkMap: They both satisfy the urge for what
Erik Naggum used to call "instant visual gratification" ...
and they both drive users bonkers after a very short time.
(One person who used StarTree told me she felt "intense
seasickness" after just a few minutes.)

I think more work needs to be done on algorithms for
reducing the complexity of a topic map before it makes
sense to try and visualize it graphically, otherwise the
result is unusable.

Steve

--
Steve Pepper, Chief Executive Officer <pepper@ontopia.net>
Convenor, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/WG3  Editor, XTM (XML Topic Maps)
Ontopia AS, Waldemar Thranes gt. 98, N-0175 Oslo, Norway.
http://www.ontopia.net/ phone: +47-23233080 GSM: +47-90827246