Memento: Localized Time‐Warping for Spatio‐Temporal Selection

Abstract

Interaction techniques for temporal data are often focused on affecting the spatial aspects of the data, for instance through the use of transfer functions, camera navigation or clipping planes. However, the temporal aspect of the data interaction is often neglected. The temporal component is either visualized as individual time steps, an animation or a static summary over the temporal domain. When dealing with streaming data, these techniques are unable to cope with the task of re‐viewing an interesting local spatio‐temporal event, while continuing to observe the rest of the feed. We propose a novel technique that allows users to interactively specify areas of interest in the spatio‐temporal domain. By employing a time‐warp function, we are able to slow down time, freeze time or even travel back in time, around spatio‐temporal events of interest. The combination of such a (pre‐defined) time‐warp function and brushing directly in the data to select regions of interest allows for a detailed review of temporally and spatially localized events, while maintaining an overview of the global spatio‐temporal data. We demonstrate the utility of our technique with several usage scenarios.

Visualization of Human Spine Biomechanics for Spinal Surgery

“…Another approach is to merge data captured at different time steps to, for example, display a static overview, allowing direct comparison [21]. Recently, time-warping was proposed, as a method of selectively defining regions of interest around spatio-temporal events [56]. A number of methods utilized in spatial comparisons can be found in the survey of Kim et al [31], who derive four elemental ways of visualizing such data: Juxtaposition, superimposition, interchange and explicit encoding.…”

Immersive and interactive visualization of 3D spatio-temporal data using a space time hypercube: Application to cell division and morphogenesis analysis

“…There is a higher cognitive load for the user who has to remember the state of the data between different moments, which can limit the observation of details, as the slogan “ Eyes Beat Memory ” suggests. Solteszova et al (2020) proposed to use time-warping in animations to cope with this issue. Their method allows the user to manipulate time evolution of a video or a selected point of interest in the video.…”

Illustrative Motion Smoothing for Attention Guidance in Dynamic Visualizations

“…Others manipulate the rendered visualization by slowing down or speeding up the entire animation – either depending on a global [BTM * 19] or a spatial degree of interest [SSS * 20]. Using such global “time‐stretching” and “time compression” is a common strategy of animators [Jen17].…”