Via Ajaxian, I learned about a new data visualization project called JsVis, released in January 2007.
JsVis, by Kyle Sholtz, is a JavaScript framework for creating “Snowflake graphs” like this one:
There is a lot of potential for visualizing complex relationships with this sort of tool. The basic layout is best for tree structures, but a thread on the discussion board indicates that there is a non-tree display method (particle model layout) which warrants investigation.
Simile, a project MIT, has created several open source tools for visualizing data on the web. The interfaces are clean and free of unnecessary decoration, and the AJAX interaction encourages exploration and questioning. These are an excellent addition to the information design toolbox.
Timeplot is a “DHTML-based AJAXy widget for plotting time series and overlay time-based events over them (with the same data formats that Timeline supports).” Timeplot requires no software installation, server-side or client-side, and can be used with a simple comma-delimited file or with XML. The graph has a liquid layout size so it doesn’t impact your site’s design.
The example below shows an interactive look 3 factors: New Legal Permanent Residents in the U.S. (per year) vs. U.S. Population vs. U.S. History.
My example of a timeplot
Exhibit 2.0 “creates interactive data-rich web pages without ever touching a database or a web server, or doing any programming.”
Timeline “is a DHTML-based AJAXy widget for visualizing time-based events. It is like Google Maps for time-based information.”
My example of a timeline
