As the amount of available data continues to increase, more and more effective means for discovering important patterns and relationships within that data are required. Although the power of automated tools continues to increase, we contend that greater gains can be achieved by coordinating results from a variety of tools and by enhancing the user’s ability to direct the application of these tools. A system which can rely on multiple modalities for processing information has a distinct benefit in terms of user-confidence in the final results. We set forth an approach which permits a flexible, user-controllable model of the information space within which basic tools can be integrated. The analysis of data, whether it be through visualization or data mining, for example, is an exercise in problem-solving and any computer-based tool to support the analysis process should be designed to support problem-solving activities. The process by which a user can develop and interact with thi...
Daryl H. Hepting, Cory J. Butz