Semantic Zoom
In contrast to ordinary graphical zoom, semantic zoom does not only change parameters of a graphical representation, but modifies the selection and structure of data to be displayed.
With a conventional geometric zoom all objects change only their size; with semantic zoom they can additionally change shape, details (not merely size of existing details) or, indeed, their very presence in the display, with objects appearing/disappearing according to the context of the map at hand.
[Boulos, 2003]
Semantic zoom is a form of details on demand that lets the user see different amounts of detail in a view by zooming in and out.
[Weaver, 2004]
Geometric (standard) zooming: The view depends on the physical properties of what is being viewed.
Semantic zooming: Different representations for different spatial scales. When zooming away, instead of seeing a scaled down version of an object, see a different representation. The representation shown depends on the meaning to be imparted.
Example: Information Maps: See a city – zoom into restaurant and see what is served there – maybe zoom based on price instead (see expensive restaurants first, keep zooming till you get to your price range).
Semantic zooming: Different representations for different spatial scales. When zooming away, instead of seeing a scaled down version of an object, see a different representation. The representation shown depends on the meaning to be imparted.
Example: Information Maps: See a city – zoom into restaurant and see what is served there – maybe zoom based on price instead (see expensive restaurants first, keep zooming till you get to your price range).
[Watson, 2004]
Working on the intrinsic structure of data and incorporating knowledge about its meaning (Meta data), semantic zoom adjusts the contents and density of information that is shown instead of only changing visual detail and scale.
References
- [Boulos, 2003] Maged N Kamel Boulos, The use of interactive graphical maps for browsing medical/health Internet information resources, International Journal of Health Geographics 2(1), 2003. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=149401
- [Watson, 2004] Gordon Watson, Lecture Lecture 15 - Visualisation of Abstract Information. Edinburgh Virtual Environment Centre. Retrieved at: November 2004, http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/vis/lect15.pdf
- [Weaver, 2004] Chris Weaver, Documentation for Improvise, Retrieved at: November 2004. http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~weaver/improvise/architecture-patterns.html