Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
based on information found on other panels. Topics are displayed for each query node,
making it easy for a user to follow a specific conversation of interest.
3.2
Trace Mode
Trace mode allows users to find new queries from a sea of information by referencing
the interests of multiple users starting from the user node described in chapter 2.
Structure of Query Nodes.
Detailed information users want to know is often spread
across various websites such as Wikipedia, YouTube, Amazon, or fan sites, and the ne-
cessity to switch pages and search for information obstructs smooth conversation. This
system realizes smooth conversation and information acquisition by detecting queries
entered during a conversation, making search requests to multiple information websites,
and displaying information relevant to the topic integrally on the trace mode interface.
Other than user nodes, this system utilizes query nodes, icon nodes, and timeline
nodes (Fig.5). When the user enters a search request into the text box at the top of
the screen, a query node is placed in center-screen, with an icon node and timeline
node nearby. The letters W, Y, and E on icon nodes represent Wikipedia, YouTube, and
E-Commerce website (Amazon, within this article), and clicking on these letters will
switch information displayed in the picture panel and icon panel to information related
to the keyword. Icon nodes can be set to any website the user likes (e.g. o
cial websites,
2 Channel), and a maximum of 5 can be displayed at any time. Clicking on the timeline
node will switch the main panel from trace mode to timeline mode. Node locations are
calculated by physical simulation using the spring model, and arranged optimally.
Executing Trace Mode.
When the user enters a keyword related to their topic of in-
terest, the database section exports data containing information on query nodes, and
the data output section's layout algorithm rearranges these nodes on-screen (Fig.6). For
example, if a user takes interest in The Beatles in a conversation and enters the band
name into the text box, icon nodes W, Y, E, and timeline node T will appear around
the query node, making reading Wikipedia articles, watching video clips of songs, or
checking CD and DVD reviews on Amazon intuitive, meaning the user can easily share
this information while continuing their conversation. Clicking on the query node will
expand the information panel. If at any time the user feels the screen is cluttered with
too many nodes, nodes may be dragged and dropped to other locations.
Fig. 4.
Left: Information panel that displays
the top 10 of taste in music, Center: Infor-
mation panel that displays the chronology
of history, Right: Communication panel
Fig. 3.
Overview of user interface
