Parallel Coordinates are a powerful method for visualizing multidimensional data, however, with large data sets they can become cluttered and difficult to read. On the other hand, a Star Glyph can be used to display either the attributes of a data item or the values across all items for a single attribute. Star Glyphs may readily provide a quick impression; however, since the full data set will require multiple glyphs overall readings are more difficult. We present an interactive integration of the visual representations of Parallel Coordinates and Star Glyphs that utilizes the advantages of both representations to offset the disadvantages they have separately. We discuss the role of uniform and stepped color scales in the visual comparison of non-adjacent items and Star Glyphs. Our visualization provides capabilities for focus-in-context exploration of the data using two types of lenses, and interactions specific to the 3D space.

Parallel Coordinates are a powerful method for visualizing multidimensional data, however, with large data sets they can become cluttered and difficult to read. On the other hand, a Star Glyph can be used to display either the attributes of a data item or the values across all items for a single attribute. Star Glyphs may readily provide a quick impression; however, since the full data set will require multiple glyphs overall readings are more difficult. We present an interactive integration of the visual representations of Parallel Coordinates and Star Glyphs that utilizes the advantages of both representations to offset the disadvantages they have separately. We discuss the role of uniform and stepped color scales in the visual comparison of non-adjacent items and Star Glyphs. Our visualization provides capabilities for focus-in-context exploration of the data using two types of lenses, and interactions specific to the 3D space.

The authors have created a software system called the CAVEman, for the visual integration and exploration of heterogeneous anatomical and biomedical data. The CAVEman can be applied for both education and research tasks. The main component of the system is a three-dimensional digital atlas of the adult male human anatomy, structured according to the nomenclature of Terminologia Anatomica. The underlying data-indexing mechanism uses standard ontologies to map a range of biomedical data types onto the atlas. The CAVEman system is now used to visualize genetic processes in the context of the human anatomy and to facilitate visual exploration of the data. Through the use of Javatrade mark software, the atlas-based system is portable to virtually any computer environment, including personal computers and workstations. Existing Java tools for biomedical data analysis have been incorporated into the system. The affordability of virtual-reality installations has increased dramatically over the last several years. This creates new opportunities for educational scenarios that model important processes in a patient's body, including gene expression patterns, metabolic activity, the effects of interventions such as drug treatments, and eventually surgical simulations.