EventLines: Time Compression for Discrete Event Timelines

TL;DR

EventLines is a novel visualization technique that dynamically adjusts time scales for discrete event sequences, improving clarity in bursty data by using non-linear time representations and studying their perceptual effects.

Contribution

We introduce EventLines, a new method for visualizing bursty discrete event data through dynamic time scaling and visual communication of scale variations.

Findings

Dynamic time scaling improves visualization clarity during event bursts.

Visual communication of scale aids user perception of event timing.

Crowdsourced study validates effectiveness of the approach.

Abstract

Discrete event sequences serve as models for numerous real-world datasets, including publications over time, project milestones, and medication dosing during patient treatments. These event sequences typically exhibit bursty behavior, where events cluster together in rapid succession, interspersed with periods of inactivity. Standard timeline charts with linear time axes fail to adequately represent such data, resulting in cluttered regions during event bursts while leaving other areas unutilized. We introduce EventLines, a novel technique that dynamically adjusts the time scale to match the underlying event distribution, enabling more efficient use of screen space. To address the challenges of non-linear time scaling, EventLines employs the time axis's visual representation itself to communicate the varying scale. We present findings from a crowdsourced graphical perception study that examines how different time scale representations influence temporal perception.