As well as these basic components, we have crafted a family of complete views, each of which focus on one aspect of the data and are built to work together in an interactive environment. The third result of our research is a set of approximately two dozen applications that could form a foundation for NGI Visualization and support many core activities such as performance measurement or caching. We have used NicheWorks to visualize Web page associations, local calling communities, and for network fraud detection. This tool allows geographical patterns and communications traffic to be explored jointly. Further, this tool allows time-based network information to be incorporated into the analysis.
Visualization is an enabling technology.
Its purpose is to allow people to understand a complex problem, to investigate methods, patterns and anomalies, and to pose queries. The first step in solving a problem is to understand it. To understand something, you need to see it. Information Visualization provides this investigative facility. We have created not only fundamental building blocks and methodology, but several systems specifically aimed at network visualization.