Representing Uncertainty, Unknowns and Dynamics of Social Networks

1
Representing Uncertainty, Unknowns and Dynamics
of Social Networks

• NX-Workshop on Social Network Analysis and
  Visualization for Public Safety
• 18 19 October 2005

2
Presentation Organization

• For each of the three topics
• Topic introduction and rough description
• Concrete examples of relevant social networks.
• Representation options
• Optional listed in terms of preference

3
Network Development
Phenomenon /Thing /Situation
AnalystsUnderstanding
Choice of Representation
Display
AudienceUnderstanding
4
Representation Orthogonality

• It is often important to represent unknowns,
  uncertainty and dynamics using visual attributes
  that are orthogonal to the visual attributes
  already used for other purposes.

5
Generic Network Variables (of an Epidemic)

• Thresholds and changes
• Traffic
• Flow
• Path
• Routing
• Topology
• Symmetric/asymmetric
• Boundaries
• Layout
• Hierarchical
• Tree
• Topology evolution in time and space
• Logical/physical
• Redundancy
• Partially connected graph
• Protocols
• Networks interconnections
• Location
• Open/Closed

• Constraints
• Rules
• Nodes
• Location
• Node type
• Symbology
• Open/Closed
• Node ID
• Input/output property
• Links
• Capacity
• Weight
• Strength
• Direction
• Availability
• Type of traffic
• Location
• Route
• Identification (Unique)

6
Unknowns - Definition

• An unknown variable is a variable of which no
  information is available as to (type 1) its
  expected value or (type 2) its existence.
• Type 1 can be represented. e.g. unknown
  variables in a mathematical equation.
• Type 2, an unknown unknown, is difficult to
  deal with although there are transforms which
  could denote lack of information.
• e.g. You do not know that you are missing
  that variable.

7
Unknowns Network Variables

• Thresholds and changes
• Traffic
• Path
• Topology
• Symmetric/asymmetric
• Boundaries
• Layout
• Hierarchical
• Tree
• Topology evolution in time and space
• Partially connected graph
• Protocols
• Networks interconnections
• Location
• Open/Closed

• Constraints
• Rules
• Nodes
• Location
• Node type
• Open/Closed
• Node ID
• Input/output property
• Links
• Capacity
• Weight
• Direction
• Availability
• Type of traffic
• The medium

8
Unknowns Visualization

• Labeling Unknowns (e.g. ???)
• Ghosting
• Demarcated Emptiness
• Black Boxes

9
Uncertainty - Definition

• An uncertain variable is a variable whose exact
  value is not known but unlike a unknown value, a
  (partial?) probability distribution for potential
  values exists.

10
Uncertainty Visualization

• Colour
• Pattern
• Shape
• Edge highlighting
• Secondary/selection highlighting
• Movement/vibration/animation speed/animation
  style
• Haze/blurriness/transparency
• Line thickness
• Textual labels

Spatial Probability Distribution for Link Path
Spatial Probability Distribution for Node Position
11
Uncertainty Network Variables

• Thresholds and changes
• Traffic
• Flow
• Path
• Routing
• Topology
• Symmetric/asymmetric
• Boundaries
• Layout
• Redundancy
• Partially connected graph
• Networks interconnections
• Location

• Constraints
• Rules
• Nodes
• Location
• Node type
• Input/output property
• Links
• Capacity
• Weight
• Direction
• Availability
• Type of traffic
• Location
• Route

12
Dynamics - Definition

• The change of network structure (i.e. add/remove
  node/links) or the change of network element
  attributes with time.

13
Dynamics Network Variables

• Traffic
• Flow
• Path
• Topology
• Boundaries
• Topology evolution in time and space
• Partially connected graph
• Networks interconnections
• Location
• Open/Closed

• Constraints
• Rules
• Nodes
• Location
• Node type
• Open/Closed
• Input/output property
• Links
• Capacity
• Weight
• Direction
• Availability
• Location
• Route

14
Dynamics - Visualization

• Animated movement / color
• Color
• Blinking
• Fade
• Appear/Disappear
• Temporary brightness
• Zoom to a new element (selective attention)
• Exploratory methods (sliders)

Node Movement
Structure Change (removal)