This document discusses graph visualization tools and approaches. It describes two main approaches to graph visualization - the global approach which provides an overview first before allowing zooming and filtering for details, and the centered approach which allows searching first before showing context and expanding on demand. Several graph visualization tools are described and it is noted which approach they best support. Linkurious is presented as a tool that can visualize any graph database and supports the centered approach through search, context, and expansion.

1. Graph Visualization
options and latest developments
London Neo4j meetup at Skills Matter, Feb 27, 2013
By @Linkurious - contact@linkurio.us

2. Linkurious startup: a few words about us
• Jean Villedieu, CMO Linkurious
• Sébastien Heymann, CEO Linkurious
• Romain Yon, CTO Linkurious (is coding tonight)
2/17/13 2

3. Example of graph
2/17/13 3

4. Graphs are in our DNA
• Gephi, the leading graph analysis and exploration solution
• Democratizing network thinking
• Linkurious
2/17/13 4

5. The best way to store and access the data of a
connected world
• Graphs are “everywhere”: conceptual view on data
• Neo4j and graph databases offer a fast and intuitive way to use data
• Social networks, recommendation engines, networked systems…
2/17/13 5

6. Visualization is key to understanding graphs
• Verify data
• Check algorithm
• View information in context
• Build a visual representation
• Understand relationships
• Discover information
• Find patterns
• Illustrate and communicate data
2/17/13 6

7. Global approach vs Centred approach
Card, Shneiderman (Using Vision to Think, 1999) Van Ham, Perer (2009)
1. Overview first, 1. Search,
2. Zoom and filter, 2. Show Context,
3. Details-on-demand. 3. Expand on Demand.
7

8. Play now: which tool for which approach?
Cytoscape, D3.js,
Gephi, GraphViz, KeyLines,
Linkurious, MentionMap,
Neo4j server web interface,
Neoclipse, NodeXL, Palantir,
Sigma.js, SocialAction,
Wikisway, WikiWeb...
8

16. WikiWeb

17. Toolkits
D3.js

18. Summary: which tool for which approach?
Cytoscape, GraphViz, Linkurious, MentionMap,
Gephi, GraphInsight, GUESS, Neo4j server web interface,
NodeXL, SocialAction, Tulip, Neoclipse, Wikisway, WikiWeb
UCINET
Global approach Centred approach
+ Toolkits to build your own App: D3.js, KeyLines, Sigma.js
18

19. Global approach vs Centred approach
Great for: Great for:
Identifying communities and Investigating entities
global properties
Finding correlations properties / Exploring local context
structure
Communicating « wow » effect Communicating insights
19

20. Global approach vs Centred approach
Issues: Issues:
Difficult to learn (data mining + CS + Users must know what to search
design skills)
Poor statistical insights
Poor insights with large graphs (bias due to hidden information)
Highly sensitive to graph
Orientation is difficult
incompleteness (<5% missing data
=> important bias)
Hardware limits (goodbye mobile!)
20

21. Global approach vs Centred approach
Use it for: Use it for:
Analysis at the global scale. Database browsing to quickly
find information.
Make hypotheses or try to
confirm statistical properties. Analysis of local views.
Graphs of size < 50k nodes. Graphs of any size.
21

22. 3 applications of the centred approach

23. Use case 1: fraud detection
Automatic outlier detection over time (Seb's Ph.D.)
Visualization of outlier-centred graphs
23

24. Use case 2: visual recommendation
Yasiv.com
24

25. Use case 3: (telco) impact analysis
Network: millions of routers and machines
Local impact of a router failure in network services?
Entypo pictograms by Daniel Bruce — www.entypo.com
25

27. Linkurious: visualize graph data easily
• A tool to visualize any graph database
• Graph search made easy
• Approach : search, show context, expand on demand
2/17/13 27

28. Linkurious competitors
Locked to a specific use case:
MentionMap => Twitter mentions
Palantir => for Palantir customers only
TheAdvisor => scientific papers recommendation
Wikiways => TechCrunch Database
Wikiweb => Wikipedia browsing
Limited browsing features:
Neoclipse, Neo4j web admin
Toolkits (require to code): D3.js, KeyLines, Sigma.js
28

29. Live demo
2/17/13 29

30. Questions?
@Linkurious
contact@linkurio.us