Information visualizations utilizing multiple coordinated views allow users to rapidly explore
complex data spaces and discover complex relationships. Most multiple-view visualizations are
static with regard to the views that they provide and the coordinations that they support. Despite
significant progress in the field of Information Visualization and development of novel
interaction techniques, user interfaces for exploring data have lacked flexibility. As a result, the
vast quantities of information rapidly being collected in databases are underutilized and
opportunities for advancement of knowledge are lost. This research proposes the central concept
of visualization schemas based on the Snap-Together Visualization (Snap) model, analogous to
the successful database concept of data schemas, which will enable dynamic specification of
information visualizations for any given database without programming.
Relational databases provide significant flexibility to organize, store, and manipulate an infinite
variety of complex data collections. This flexibility is enabled by the concept of relational data
schemas, which allow data owners to easily design custom databases according to their unique
needs. We bring the same level of flexibility to visualization development through visualization
schemas. Visualization Schemas is a conceptual model, user interface, and software architecture
while Fusion is the implemented system that enable users to rapidly and dynamically construct
personalized multi-view visualization workspaces by coordinating visualizations in ways
unforeseen by the original developers.
