Color LinesView:AnApproach toVisualization of Families of Function Graphs

Data sets often include information that can be represented as a mapping that describes how a dependent variable depends on an independent variable. Such a mapping, usually represented as a function graph, can be parameterized to provide a family of function graphs. The challenge is how to efficiently aggregate individual function graph views to represent the whole family and allow visual analysis and search for patterns. We propose a novel view, called the color lines view, which provides a two dimensional, rectangular view where each line represents a single function graph. The points on the line correspond to values of the independent variable. The point colors represent the value of the dependent variable. The lines, placed next to each other in parallel, show a family of function graphs. The color lines view offers sorting and brushing features which support visual analysis procedures that are difficult to perform with previously existing views.