Title: Visualising and interacting with multiple simulations using the multichronic tree

Authors: Francois Rioux, Denis Laurendeau, Francois Bernier

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, 1065, avenue de la Medecine, Universite Laval, Quebec (Quebec), G1V 0A6, Canada. ' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, 1065, avenue de la Medecine, Universite Laval, Quebec (Quebec), G1V 0A6, Canada. ' System of Systems, Defence Research and Development Canada – Valcartier, 2459 blvd. Pie-X1 North, Quebec, QC, G3J 1X5, Canada

Abstract: It has been proven experimentally that visual interactive simulation (VIS) is useful in specific contexts. Interaction with the simulated system remains one of the key issues that need to be addressed for VIS to be applied on a large-scale. Little work has been reported recently on using modern computers that offer new types of user interfaces for solving the problem of interactivity with simulations. This paper introduces the multichronic tree user interface concept that provides users with tools for interacting with and visualising multiple simultaneously running simulations. This new VIS concept builds on previous systems, formalises operations and adds several interactive features that can be supported by state-of-the-art computer architectures and display environments. A prototype of the multichronic tree concept is presented along with a discussion on how it could be integrated with other tools in a more general framework for helping users in their simulation exploration process.

Keywords: visual interactive simulation; VIS; user interface; exploratory analysis; human-computer interface; HCI; multichronic tree; multiple simulations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2010.029596

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.52 - 65

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article