A primer on Information Visualization.

Amongst others, topics covered in this paper include the visualization process (filtering, mapping, rendering, and usage of data), the distinction between data and information, as well as graph and network theory.

The later chapters focus on interaction and interface techniques and introduce the concepts of zoom + pan, focus + context, and other, more innovative visualization methods (e.g. TreeMap, fisheye and hyperbolic views).

Finally, the paper evaluates some products and projects, such as Cone Tree, Perspective Wall, and the well-known Map of the Market.

NetMapper visualizes the intrinsic structures of the net as composition of objects in spatial space. The links between resources are examined and stored with further informations such as link depth or resource names. Finally NetMapper creates a VRML-view through which the user can navigate. Thus the user learns the structure by analyzing this view.

Netzwerkstatt was an intranet project for the Deutsche Telekom, where employees could train and learn. It was an online learning environment consisting of tutorials, FAQs, and other basic knowledge management services. A lot of community functions such as forums and internal messages were built in.

Particularly interesting about this was the Web-Radar: A Java applet showing all users online in their current areas, thus assisting topic related discussions.