[topicmapmail] Generating TMs out of relational Databases / How To?

[Jan Algermissen]

Hi Murray,

I was once told that research shows that the human mind can visually =20
grasp up to 7 relationships, anything beyond that is noise.

Sorry, don't have a reference foor this at all.

HTH,

Jan


On May 31, 2005, at 4:32 PM, M.Altheim wrote:

>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: topicmapmail-admin@infoloom.com [mailto:topicmapmail-=20
>> admin@infoloom.com]
>> On Behalf Of B=E9n=E9dicte Le Grand
>> Sent: 31 May 2005 12:39
>> To: topicmapmail
>> Subject: RE: [topicmapmail] Generating TMs out of relational =20
>> Databases / How
>> To?
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Thank you Murray for this reference to my work ;)
>>
>> I agree with Jack, there is a lot to do in the field of topic maps
>> visualization.
>>
>> I had to focus on other subjects the last few years but I am still =20=

>> very
>> interested in TM visualization and I would be glad to contribute =20
>> in this
>> area. I do not have much time for programming at the moment, but I =20=

>> would be
>> glad to share my ideas.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Benedicte Le Grand
>>
>
> Benedicte,
>
> You're quite welcome, and I'm glad to hear from you -- it's been
> a few years, yes?
>
> I would be interested in hearing your experience in trying to
> answer a question I think is pertinent to this discussion:
>
>   Q: In the area of Topic Map visualization, when visualizing
>      Topics and Associations between Topics, are the techniques
>      used to visualize highly-detailed, relatively small Topic
>      Maps suitable for larger scale ones? If not, is this
>      discontinuity based on a continuum, or is there roughly
>      a threshold at which a different visualization paradigm
>      is then required?
>
> For example, one visualization technique/paradigm might be
> suitable for say, 20 Topics, another for 300 Topics, but
> neither suitable for 3000 or 30,000. Does this *gradually*
> become unsuitable, or is there a threshold (roughly) at
> which point a specific style of visualization doesn't scale
> any further?
>
> Knowing such a threshold (even roughly) would help determine
> for a given project which visualization approach is suitable.
>
> Of course, there are many factors in making such decisions,
> such as the required on-screen information, ability to zoom,
> filter, or localize, etc.  What I'm thinking is that it might
> be valuable to begin cataloguing the different visualization
> techniques (as you have done so well in the XML Topic Maps
> book), but perhaps on a wiki or somewhere that would allow
> new projects to be added by their authors. Because visuali-
> zation is so crucial in large scale information management
> projects, and where Topic Maps may provide important new
> abilities, it'd be great to have somewhere where we could
> keep track of existing projects and new developments.
>
> Now, I don't mean to put any pressure on you -- I'm sure that
> we both agree that there are no simple answers, but it would
> be valuable to the community to begin to delineate the factors.
>
> I note that easytopicmaps.org seems to have been destroyed by
> spam, so there's not a particularly good, vendor-neutral place
> to do this. I hope to have a wiki up by the end of summer, so
> perhaps there...  until such time, this list does provide
> archives, so we'll at least have a record.
>
> All the best,
>
> Murray
>
> ......................................................................
> Murray Altheim                          http://www.altheim.com/murray/
> Strategic & Service Development
> The Open University Library
> Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK7 6AA, UK
>
>           Ils ont l'orteil de Bouc, & d'un Chevreil l'oreille,
>           La corne d'un Chamois, & la face vermeille
>           Comme un rouge Croissant: & dancent toute nuict
>           Dedans un carrefour, ou pres d'une eau qui bruict.
> _______________________________________________
> topicmapmail mailing list
> topicmapmail@infoloom.com
> http://www.infoloom.com/mailman/listinfo/topicmapmail
>
>

------------------------------------------------------------------------=20=

-
Jan Algermissen
Consultant & Programmer

http://jalgermissen.com
http://www.tugboat.de