Website Visualization

Information Visualization is evolving itself to a rich and resourceful tool for transcribing the massive abstract data sources to easily understandable visual representations. The domain of information visualization is vast and branches off to various intricate fields like Scientific Visualization, Data Visualization, Knowledge Visualization, Information Graphics and Visual Design. Three dimensional visualization and mapping techniques have been employed to generate a visible and understandable layout depicting complex human systems like dynamic market trends and complex socio-economic networks. Website Visualization has enabled the information architects to visually map the large scale public hypermedia structure of the World Wide Web.

The data visualization tools used for effective study of the architecture, navigation and links of the websites center round the dynamics of visual representation and interactivity - both being the fundamental pillars of Website Visualization. The three dimensional visualization techniques of the World Wide Web involve complex computer generated programming tools that transform the massive unorganized abstract data to a somewhat navigable landscape within a virtually identifiable space. The dynamic representation of the complex public network can easily be simulated showing real time changes with visibly populated browser traffic. Information architects and website professionals work on the visually representing patterns of the websites based on a repository of universal sets of deliverables.

The effective deliverables used by information professionals for effective website architecture improve overall visual representation of the website along with structure, page set up, hierarchy and linking. Website Visualization involves the structure and the links of the portals that act as three dimensional maps enabling easy analysis of browsing history, search references and real time user information. The essential deliverables used by the information architects for effective data visualization involve:

• Content Inventory: The content inventory represents compiled snapshots of all the important sections, contents and pages in the portal. The inventory not only holds the textual details, but also the graphical displays and multimedia specifications.
• User Profile: The user profile datasheet contains detailed information of the exemplary target audience displayed in a compact visual pattern. By analyzing the user profile a visualization expert can have a clear idea of the user’s requirements.
• Use Case: Use Cases are created as a quintessential part of the information architecture for easy visualization and analysis of the web portal. These Use Cases or User Flows are narratives, visually explaining a series of tasks to be accomplished by the user to reach the desired goal.
• Wireframes: Wireframes are used for web visualization by the information architects for overall representation of the general page structure along with the content requirements for each and every page. Wireframes are often used along with sitemaps and also in the form of storyboards, representing a visual presentation of functional and design decisions depending on the requirement of the user.
• Paper Prototyping: Paper Prototyping uses screen shots and three dimensional visual representations to ascertain browser feedback. The prototypes can be created by computer programs to identify and analyze the interface problems encountered in information architecture.

With increasing supremacy of the Internet innumerable websites are coming into existence competing with each other in the global market. With the advent of e-commerce the World Wide Web has merged as a parallel platform of business networks. Manual web visualization by companies, organizations and individuals being time consuming and cumbersome, information experts and website professionals are coming up with certain Website Visualization techniques. There are a wide variety of visualization tools aiming at the following objectives:

• Effective visualization of the website structure
• Proper analysis of the browsing network and history
• Studying the page hierarchy
• Understanding the link network
• Visualizing the web evolution
• Visually tracking the real time website searches

Excellent Visualization tools are being generated and implemented on a daily basis to upgrade the level of information analysis in real time simulated visual models. Fidg’t is a desktop application that is used to analyze the real time networks by easily discernable maps associated with photos and music. Along with Flickr the Google maps combine in Flickrvision, thereby visually representing the source files from where the photos are being uploading in real time online sessions. Taglines developed by Yahoo research group enables a user to visualize the Flickr tags in a simulated display. Website visualization has made a stand and is still evolving to achieve new dimensions molding the future of the virtual world.