Patent Publication Number: US-11023482-B2

Title: Authoring of data visualizations and maps

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/272,832 filed Oct. 13, 2011, U.S. Pat. No. 10,198,485, entitled, “AUTHORING OF DATA VISUALIZATIONS AND MAPS.” The disclosure of this priority application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Computer-enabled mapping systems have been developed to allow users to locate business and personal addresses, natural or human-made structures, topographical layouts, and the like. In a typical setting, users program a physical address into a mapping application in order to locate the address or to obtain travel directions to the address. Often, information used by a mapping application user is manually input from a computer-generated list or file, for example, entry of an address from a contacts file. Once a user locates an item of interest using a computer-enabled mapping application, he/she typically must rely on a physical information file or computer-generated information file for information about the located item of interest. Thus, there is a need for integration of computer-enabled information with a computer-enabled mapping application to provide a visualization of the computer-enabled information in association with a computer-enabled map. 
     It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention solve the above and other problems by providing for authoring of visualizations of computer-enabled information in association with computer-enabled maps. One or more data items, for example, a list of real estate offerings and a list of public schools in the same area as the real estate offerings, may be imported (e.g., dragged and dropped) onto a computer-generated mapping surface. A data visualization application may obtain location information, for example, physical address or latitude/longitude coordinates, for each data item. A map showing a geographical area large enough to contain each data item may be automatically generated and displayed, and each data item may be located on the map and may be identified by an identifying icon or label. A legend providing information for the data items may be displayed. Selection of an icon or label for any of the data items may cause display of an information box on the mapping surface to provide information about the data item associated with the selected icon or label. According to embodiments, the map display and visualization of the data items on the map display may be dynamically modified as one or more other data items are imported onto the visualization surface or as one or more existing data items are removed from the visualization surface. Thus, according to embodiments, any user viewing the computer-enabled map with access to one or more data sets of various types may construct their own visualizations on top of the map by moving (e.g., dragging and dropping) various data items or data sets onto the map where the moving of any data item onto the map or the moving of any data item off the map may result in a new and unique visualization and user experience. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that the following detailed description is explanatory only and is not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a system architecture for generating a data visualization of one or more data items in association with a computer-enabled map. 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram illustrating the importing of one or more data items onto a computer-generated mapping surface for generating a data visualization of the one or more data items on a computer-generated map. 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified block diagram illustrating the importing of one or more data items onto a computer-generated mapping surface for generating a data visualization of the one or more data items on a computer-generated map. 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map. 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map and showing a display of information associated with one or more identified data items. 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map and showing a display of information associated with one or more identified data items. 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map and showing a display of information associated with one or more identified data items. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map. 
         FIG. 9  is a simplified block diagram of a computing device with which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are simplified block diagrams of a mobile computing device with which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. 
         FIG. 11  is a simplified block diagram of a distributed computing system in which embodiments of the present invention may be practiced. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to authoring (e.g., generating and editing) and displaying a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map. One or more data items, for example, data items associated with an electronic file may be imported (e.g., dragged and dropped) onto an electronic mapping surface. For example, a spreadsheet application file containing names of various businesses and addresses for each of the various businesses may be dragged onto an electronic mapping surface. Likewise, the example spreadsheet application file may be selected from a menu of files for importing to the electronic mapping surface. A data visualization application may obtain location information from the imported file, for example, physical addresses or latitude/longitude coordinates, and pass the obtained physical information to an electronic mapping application for locating each data item on an electronic map. 
     The data visualization application may then generate an electronic map showing a geographical area large enough to contain each physical location associated with each imported data item. An electronic map may then be displayed on a visualization surface, and each imported data item may be identified on the electronic map by an identifying icon or label. Selection of one of the identifying icons or labels may cause a display of a text box or dialog box showing information about the data item associated with the selected icon or label. For example, the name of a business, address for the business, and any identifying information about the business obtained from the imported data item, for example, spreadsheet file, may be displayed in the text box or dialog box for review by a user. 
     If additional data items are imported to the electronic mapping surface, or if existing data items are removed from the mapping surface, the visualization for the data items in association with the electronic map may be dynamically changed for showing an updated visualization containing new or amended data items and associated information. In addition, data items imported onto the visualization surface may be interacted with by users, and if user interaction causes changes to imported data items, the associated visualization of data items on the electronic map may be dynamically modified. 
     As described in detail below, according to embodiments, each individual data item need not be moved onto the mapping surface separately for effecting a change to the mapping visualization responsive to each individual data item. Instead, one or more data visualizations may be moved onto the mapping surface where the one or more data visualizations include a plurality of layered or nested data items, and the mapping surface may be dynamically changed to reflect all the data items included in the data visualizations moved onto the mapping surface. In addition, data visualizations moved onto the surface may be modified by moving additional data onto the data visualization (e.g., a third data item and type such as locations of public and private schools). When a data visualization moved onto the mapping surface is thus modified, the data visualization may be modified and the mapping surface may be modified to reflect the new data. In addition, data items, for example, charts, moved onto the mapping surface may be linked back to data sources from which the data items are imported. If data in the data sources are changed, then the data items moved onto the mapping surface may be dynamically changed, and the mapping visualization likewise may be changed. 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention, but instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a system architecture for generating a data visualization of one or more data items in association with a computer-enabled map. According to embodiments, the computing device  100  may be in the form of a variety of acceptable computing devices, for example, a general purpose computing device, personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a slate-type computer, a mobile computer, a hand-held telephonic computer (e.g., mobile telephone or smart phone), a wall-type computing device and or display, and the like. 
     Input or other interaction with the computing device  100  may be performed according to a variety of input means. Suitable input means include, but are not limited to, keyboard/mouse entry/interaction, touch screen interaction, for example, where a user writes, draws, or otherwise interacts with software application functionality through touching the display screen of the computing device  100 , electronic pen/stylus interaction, voice command, wherein for example, a user issues commands to software application functionality or issues voice-based content entry, gesture commands, and the like. According to an embodiment, for purposes of receiving voice-based and gesture-based input, the device  100  may be coupled a microphone operative to capture voice commands, and the device  100  may be coupled a camera operative to record and capture motions and/or gestures made by a user. Such a camera may be operative to provide motion detection capable of detecting movement from users for interpreting the movements as commands for causing changes in application functionality. For example, a camera may comprise a Microsoft® Kinect® motion capture device comprising a plurality of cameras and a plurality of microphones for capturing both motion and voice or other audio information. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 1 , a visualization surface  105  is displayed on a display screen of the computing device  100  for displaying a visualization  106  comprising an electronic map  110  with which is associated one or more data files  120  (and associated or included data items) and on which may be displayed one or more identifying icons or labels  115  for identifying locations on the map  110  associated with data items from an imported data file  120 . According to one embodiment conditional formatting functionality may be applied to graphical features displayed on the visualization surface for enhancing user experience. For example, if green colored thumbtack icons are used to show locations of properties on a mapping visualization, conditional formatting may be applied to the thumbtack icons so that if any property has a value of $500,000 or more, the associated thumbtack changes from green color to blue color. Navigation controls  155  are illustrated for navigating the visualization  106  from one visualization display to another visualization display. 
     The data visualization application  125  is illustrative of a software application having sufficient computer executable instructions, which when executed by a computer, to provide a visualization  106  of one or more data items in association with a displayed electronic map. According to embodiments of the present invention, the data visualization application  125  is operative to receive one or more data items imported onto a visualization surface  105  and for displaying an electronic map comprising a geographic area large enough to include one or more data items. According to embodiments, the data visualization application  125  is operative to provide a display of the electronic map or to call on a separate electronic mapping application for obtaining a generated electronic map as required for displaying information associated with the imported data items. That is, the data visualization application  125  may operate as a standalone application on a given computing device, or the data visualization application  125  may operate as part of a service where application functionality and data are accessed via a distributed computing environment (e.g., cloud-based system) where for example the data visualization application  125  operates from a remote server and one or more data items dropped onto a client-side instance of the data visualization application are imported from one or more remote storage media. Further discussion of computing environments in which the data visualization application  125  and associated data may operate is set out below with reference for  FIGS. 9-11 . 
     In addition, the data visualization application is operative to generate and display one or more objects including text-based objects, spreadsheet application objects, slide presentation application objects, photographic images, graphical icons/images and the like on an electronic map  110  in association with one or more imported data items  121 . As will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 4-7 , the data visualization application  125  is further operative to provide additional information about a given data item upon receipt of a selection of an icon/label  115  associated with a given data item. 
     According to embodiments, the data visualization application  125  is operative to cause a display of information in association with the electronic map  110  as a standalone application, or the data visualization application  125  is operative to obtain functionality for displaying the information in association with the map  110  from a variety of functionality applications  128 . For example, the data visualization application  125  may cause the presentation of a text-based object in association with the map  110 , or the application  125  may call on the functionality of a word processing application  128  for causing the display of a text-based object in association with the map  110 . Similarly, the data visualization application  125  may cause the display of other data objects, such as spreadsheet objects, slide presentation objects, notes objects, comments objects, calendar objects, or any other displayable object, the display of which may be caused by the data visualization application  125  or the display of which may be caused by a separate application  128  called upon by the data visualization application  125  for required functionality. 
     According to embodiments, the data visualization application  125  may obtain information associated with an imported data item from one or more data repositories  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 . For example, if a person&#39;s name is imported onto the visualization surface  105 , the data visualization application  125  may be operative for obtaining an address and other information for the person&#39;s name from a contacts database  135 . Similarly, the data visualization application  125  may be operative for obtaining calendar information for the person from a calendar database  140 . As should be appreciated, a variety of other information may be obtained by the data visualization application  125  in association with data items imported onto the visualization surface  105  in association with the map  110 . For example, if a data file  120  is imported onto the visualization  105  including home listing information from a real estate listing service, the data visualization application  125  may be operative to obtain address information for the example homes listed on the listing service as well as information for the listed homes such as available square feet, numbers of rooms, price, and the like. Such information may be obtained from a data repository  145  associated with an example real estate listing service. The data repository  150  is illustrative of any other data repository containing information that may be accessed by the data visualization application  125  for display in association with the electronic map  110  as described herein. The data visualization application  125  may access the multiple functionality of the applications  128  and the various data repositories  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150  via local storage media or via a distributed computing network  130 , such as the Internet. 
     A visualization  106  may be generated by the data visualization application  125  after one or more data items is imported onto the visualization surface  105  from which the data visualization application  125  generates or causes the generation of an electronic map  110  onto which data items, information about data items, and visualization representations  115  for data items may be displayed. The one or more data items may be imported onto the visualization surface  105  according to a variety of suitable means. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , according to one embodiment, one or more data items or one or more data files containing one or more data items may be dragged onto the visualization surface  105  for initially populating or priming the visualization surface  105  with one or more data items with which the data visualization application  125  may generate a visualization  106 . That is, before any information is imported onto the visualization surface  105 , the visualization surface  105  may be an empty display surface or “blank slate” having no graphical representation of any data items. According to one embodiment, data files  205 ,  210  including individual data items  215 ,  220  may be dragged and dropped onto the visualization surface  105  to populate or “prime” the data visualization application  125  with one or more data items with which to generate a visualization  106 . The data files  205 ,  210  or individual data items  215 ,  220  may similarly be selected from a menu of data items for population onto the visualization surface  105 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , according to another embodiment, an initial display of an electronic map  300  may be displayed on the visualization surface  105 , and the data files  205 ,  210  or individual data items  215 ,  220  may be dragged onto the electronic map  300  on the visualization surface  105 , or may be selected from a menu of data files and/or data items for population onto the electronic map  300  displayed on the visualization surface  105 . As further described below, the act of dragging the data files onto the visualization surface may cause the map to change even if data from the files is not represented on the mapping visualization surface. For example, starting with a generic map of the world, dragging onto it data that only has addresses in the data set from the United States may zoom the map to the United States (e.g., even without putting any “tacks” or other labels or icons on the map, etc.). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , when the data files  205 ,  210  and/or individual data items or data visualizations  215 ,  220  are populated onto the visualization surface  105  or onto an initially displayed electronic map  300 , the data visualization application  125  may parse the imported data files or individual data items for information with which the data visualization application  125  may obtain location information and other information for generating a visualization  106  for display on the visualization surface  105 . For example, referring to the imported data file  205 , the visualization application  125  may parse the imported data file  205  to find that the example data file  205  includes listings of real estate properties according to a variety of property price ranges. 
     When a data file, for example, a data file  205 ,  210  is moved onto the mapping surface as described herein, data contained in the data files may be obtained from one or more sources, for example, from columns of data contained in a spreadsheet file. According to embodiments, such imported data may be transformed into one or more data visualizations, for example, a chart of various types, for display on the mapping surface and for linking to the mapping surface and to other data visualizations imported onto the mapping visualization surface. Referring to  FIG. 4 , consider for example that a column of data showing housing prices per living area (e.g., price per square foot of space) is dropped onto the mapping visualization surface from a spreadsheet. When the column of data is dropped onto the visualization surface, a user interface component  460  may be presented showing the user various chart or other display objects the user may select for graphically representing the imported data on the mapping visualization surface. For example, a bar chart and a pie chart are illustrated from which the user may select a desired graphics type. As should be appreciated, the illustrated chart types are for purposes of example only, and numerous graphical representation types may be provided. 
     Continuing with the example, if the user selects the bar chart type for application to the imported data, the imported data will be presented in a chart of that type as illustrated in the bar chart  470 . According to embodiments, the bar chart  470  may be linked to other data objects displayed on the mapping visualization, as well as, to the data source from which the imported bar chart data was obtained. Thus, changes to any data to which the example bar chart data is linked may cause corresponding changes to the bar chart data and to the data and data representations associated with other data objects or sources to which the bar chart data is linked. 
     According to an embodiment, the data visualization application  125  may pass information contained in the imported data files and/or visualizations  205 ,  210 ,  470  to a variety of data repositories  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150  for obtaining location information associated with the data contained in the imported data file  205 . For example, the data visualization application may pass real estate property price ranges to a real estate listing service for obtaining location data, for example, addresses or latitude/longitude coordinates for real estate properties in an area prescribed in the imported data file  205  matching the real estate property prices listed in the imported data file  205 . After obtaining location information for the example real estate properties, the visualization application  125  may utilize its own standalone mapping functionality, or the application  125  may call on a separate mapping application functionality for generating an electronic map  400  showing a geographical area of sufficient size for displaying information for each location associated with each data item, for example, real estate properties, listed in the imported data file  205 . Similarly, for the imported data file  210 , the data visualization application  125  may obtain location data and other information for individual data items contained in the imported data file  210  for generating or amending the visualization  106  to include information contained in the second file  210 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 4 , the electronic map  400  generated for the visualization  106  is displayed according to a geographical area of sufficient size for displaying identifying information and other information associated with each individual data item imported onto the visualization surface  105 . For example, the electronic map  400  may represent a geographical area associated with a city or metropolitan area. Next, at a location on the map  400  associated with each individual data item, the data visualization application  125  may cause a display of an icon/image or label  405 ,  410  associated with a category of data types, or associated with each data item type. According to an embodiment, a legend  450  may be automatically displayed on the visualization surface  105  in association with the map  400  for defining the icons/images or labels  405 ,  410 . 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 4 , an icon, such as a colored thumb tack icon  405  (e.g., green thumb tack), may be displayed on the map  400  at each location associated with a data item, for example, an individual real estate property, provided in the imported data file  205 . Likewise, a different icon/image, for example, a red thumb tack icon  410  may be displayed at the locations of each data item imported from the second imported data file  210 . Alternatively, a different display icon/image may be displayed on the map  400  for each individual data item contained in any imported data file  205 ,  210  such that a different or distinguishing icon/image is used for identifying each individual data item imported onto the visualization surface  105  and used for generating the displayed electronic map  400 . 
     According to embodiments, if the imported data files  205 ,  210  or any individual data items contained in the imported data files  205 ,  210  are changed, the data visualization application  125  may dynamically change the display of the electronic map  400  in the visualization surface  105 . For example, if the data file  210  is removed from the visualization surface  105 , then the display of identification icons/images  410  and any other information associated with data items contained in the removed data file  210  will be removed by the data visualization application  125 . 
     According to embodiments, each individual data item need not be moved onto the mapping surface separately for effecting a change to the mapping visualization responsive to each individual data item. Instead, one or more data visualizations may be moved onto the mapping surface where the one or more data visualizations include a plurality of layered or nested data items, and the mapping surface may be dynamically changed to reflect all the data items included in the data visualizations moved onto the mapping surface. For example, instead of moving a first data chart showing property prices onto the mapping surface, followed by moving a second data chart showing property tax rates onto the mapping surface, a data visualization comprising both data items and data types may be moved onto the mapping surface causing the mapping visualization to change to reflect the new data. 
     Moreover, the data visualizations moved onto the surface may be modified by moving additional data visualization (e.g., additional chart) onto the mapping surface to create an interdependency between the additional data visualization and other data visualizations already on the mapping surface (e.g., a third data item and type such as a chart showing locations of public and private schools). When a data visualization moved onto the mapping surface is modified, the modification may affect other data visualizations that are interdependent on the modified data visualization, and the mapping surface may be modified to reflect the modified data. 
     For example, a chart showing property prices and property tax rates may be moved onto the mapping surface. The chart may be displayed on the mapping surface, and data from the chart, for example, locations of properties matching prices on the chart may be identified or labeled on the map. A user may then move a chart showing locations of public and private schools onto the now displayed chart showing property prices and property tax rates. When the new chart is dropped onto the mapping surface, an interdependent relationship may be formed between the two charts such that changes or filtering applied to one chart may affect the other chart and mapping that is displaying information for the two charts. For instance, if the public/private school chart is filtered to include only information for private schools, then the property prices/property tax rates chart similarly may be filtered to include only those homes associated with children attending private schools. The mapping of information from the two charts likewise may be modified as the two charts are modified. 
     In addition, data items, for example, charts, moved onto the mapping surface may be linked back to data sources from which the data items are imported. If data in the data sources are changed, then the data items moved onto the mapping surface may be dynamically changed, and the mapping visualization likewise may be changed. For example, if a chart is dropped onto the mapping surface containing property prices for a geographical area, and the data source from which the chart is obtained is changed, then the chart dropped onto the mapping surface may be dynamically changed, and the data reflected on the mapping surface likewise may be changed. 
     If the geographical display of the electronic map  400  will be different after the removal of one or more data items from the visualization surface  105 , then the data visualization application  125  may cause the display of the electronic map  400  to be changed accordingly. For example, if data items removed from the visualization surface  105  allow for a presentation of an electronic map comprising 100 square miles of geographical area as opposed to the requirement of a geographical display area of 150 miles prior to the removal of the one or more data items, then the data visualization application  125  will change the display of the electronic map to an electronic map having a geographical display area of 100 miles after the removal of the one or more data items. For another example, if one or more data items are added to the visualization surface  105  requiring the display of an electronic map showing a different geographical area, for example, a different city, then the data visualization application  125  will dynamically change the display of the electronic map  400  to accommodate the display of identifying icons/images  405 ,  410  and any other related information for the one or more added data items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in addition to obtaining location information for each individual data item imported onto the visualization surface  105 , the data visualization application  125  may obtain other information about each individual data item for display in association with the electronic map  400  generated for the imported data items. Referring still to the real estate property listings example, described above, for each individual real estate property listing imported in a data file  205 , the data visualization application  125  may obtain additional information from one of the data repositories  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150  described above. For example, for each individual real estate property listing, the data visualization application  125  may obtain a property owner name for the example property, an address for the example property, a listing price for the example property, a number of bedrooms, baths and other amenities for the example property, and the like. 
     The data visualization application  125  may then associate the obtained information with the identifying icon/image positioned on the electronic map  400  for the associated example property listing. Likewise, for the example schools listed in the example imported data file  210 , the data visualization application  125  may obtain information for each listed school, for example, a school name, grades associated with each school, whether the school is public or private, the number of students at the school, and the like. Such information may then be associated with an icon/image  410  displayed on the electronic map  400  for the associated example school listing. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , upon selection of an identifying icon/image  405 ,  410 , the information obtained for the data item associated with the selected identification icon/image may be displayed in a text box or dialog box  510 ,  520 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . That is, upon selection of an individual icon/image displayed on the electronic map  400  in association with a given data item, information associated with the data item may be dynamically displayed in a text box or dialog  510 ,  520  to allow users to review information obtained for the associated data item. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , if an individual user is interested in learning about one or more real estate properties and about one or more schools located near various real estate properties, the visualization  106  generated by the data visualization application  125  may be utilized for receiving an automatic display of an electronic map  400  on which is displayed identifying icons/images for locating potential real estate properties and potential schools near potential real estate properties. Then, when user selects a given icon/image  405 ,  410 , the information obtained by the data visualization application  125  for the associated data item may be displayed in the text box  510 ,  520 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     For example, if a user is interested in the attributes of a given real estate property, the user may select the red thumb tack icon  405  associated with a real estate property located on a street or in a location that is desirable to the user. Upon selection of the associated icon/image  405 , the text box  510  may be displayed near the selected icon/image for displaying the information obtained about the example property listing. As illustrated in the text box  510 , information  515  about the example property listing is displayed. Likewise, the user may select a nearby icon/image  410  associated with an example school to obtain information about the example school  415  in the text box  520 . 
     According to embodiments, once a given visualization is generated comprising an electronic map and showing the locations of various points of interest in association with data items imported to the visualization surface, filtering may be done on the visualization in association with represented data items to dynamically change the visualization. Referring back to the real estate listings example, illustrated and described above with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a display of all listings associated with the imported data file  205  may cause a display of identifying icons/images associated with each example property listing contained in the imported data file. According to embodiments, if the user desires to filter the data items contained in the imported data file, the data visualization application  125  may cause the generated visualization to dynamically change as the data items are filtered. In addition, as described above, conditional formatting functionality may be applied to graphical features displayed on the visualization surface for enhancing user experience. For example, if green colored thumbtack icons are used to show locations of properties on a mapping visualization, conditional formatting may be applied to the thumbtack icons so that if any property has a value of $500,000 or more, the associated thumbtack changes from green color to blue color. 
     For example, if the user filters the data such that only data items associated with properties having prices below a certain threshold value, for example, below $200,000.00, are included in the visualization, then the data visualization application  125  will dynamically revise the visualization, and those identifying icons/images associated with properties not matching the data item filtering parameters will be dynamically removed from the visualization. For example, any properties with listing prices above the threshold value will be removed from the data items used by the application  125 , and the identifying icons/images for those properties will dynamically disappear from view in the visualization  106 . As should be appreciated, other filtering attributes might include usable space (e.g., square feet) associated with properties, numbers of bedrooms associated with properties, amenities associated with the properties and the like. 
     For another example, referring to the data file  210  associated with the schools, the user may decide to filter out those schools identified as private schools so that the user sees only information associated with public schools. Once the user filters the imported data file  210  to include only those items associated with public schools, then the identifying icons/images presented on the electronic map for private schools will dynamically disappear from view so that the user only sees those items associated with public schools. As should be appreciated, the filtering process may be done according to a variety of means. For example, a filtering dialog box may be exposed to allow the user to selectively filter among data items included in a given imported data file. Alternatively, a user may filter out certain items by dragging the items out of the imported data file to take those items off of the visualization surface  105 . For another example, a function, such as a right click on the visualization surface may expose a menu allowing the user to select various functions, including a filter function for filtering data items associated with a present visualization. 
     According to embodiments, another type of data filtering that may be employed includes filtering on one visualization applied to the mapping visualization surface that causes filtering of all visualizations applied to the surface that are linked to or associated with the filtered visualization. For example, referring still to  FIG. 5 , a chart  550  is illustrated having been dropped onto the visualization surface and electronic map  400 . The chart  550  shows a graphical representation of housing prices by living space (e.g., square feet of living space). A pair of filter tabs  555  is illustrated for filtering the data in the chart to show only data between the filter tabs. That is, by sliding the filter tabs  555 , the chart  550  may be dynamically changed to show only data represented between the filter tab settings, for example, only houses with living areas (e.g., square feet) associated with prices between $200,000 and $300,000. According to embodiments, the other charts  510  and  520  may be linked to the square feet per price chart  550  such that filtering the chart  550  causes an automatic filtering of data contained in the charts  510  and  520  and causes a change in the mapping visualization to reflect the filtered data. As should be appreciated, the illustrated visualizations in  FIG. 5  and all other figures described herein are for purposes of example only and are not limiting of other visualizations that may be utilized. Thus, the user may make authoring changes to both the data visualizations  510 ,  520 ,  550  and to the mapping surface simultaneously by making changes to any one or all of the respective data visualizations. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , another example visualization  106  is illustrated and described showing how various data items may be utilized for generating a helpful interactive visualization and showing how a user may filter the visualization based on various data items and how the user may “drill down” on individual data items to generate a secondary visualization  106 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a data file  605  is imported onto the visualization surface  105  to cause the data visualization application  125  to generate a mapping visualization  105  comprised of an electronic map  600  and including location icons/images  610 ,  615 ,  620 ,  625  associated with individual data items included in the imported data file  605 . 
     For example, the data file  605  includes an example family schedule for a child. According to embodiments, the child&#39;s parents may drag the data file  605  containing the child&#39;s schedule onto the visualization surface  105  in order to generate a visualization containing an electronic map  600  and containing location-specific identification icons/images for each item on the child&#39;s schedule contained in the imported file  605 . Referring to the example data items contained in the imported file  605 , a first item shows the child at school from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A second item shows the child at soccer practice from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A third item shows the child at dinner from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A fourth item shows the child at piano lessons from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and a fifth item shows the child performing homework from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 
     As described above with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the data visualization application  125  parses the imported file  605  and uses the individual data items contained in the file  605  for obtaining information about individual data items including an address or other location information for locating each data item on the generated electronic map  605  and for obtaining other information about each data item that may be presented in a text box or a dialog box upon selection of an associated identifying icon/image  610 ,  615 ,  620 ,  625  located on the electronic map  600  for each imported data item. Following from the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an identifying icon/image  610  is positioned on the electronic map  600  at the location of the child&#39;s school. An identifying icon/image  615  is positioned on the electronic map  600  at the location of the child&#39;s soccer practice. An identifying icon/image  620  is positioned on the electronic map  600  at the location of the child&#39;s dinner. An identifying icon/image  625  is positioned on the electronic map  600  at the location of the child&#39;s piano lessons, and so on. 
     Thus, the data visualization application  125  generates an electronic map  600  along with the locations of each activity to be performed by the child according to the imported daily schedule for the child in the imported data file  605 . If the user&#39;s parent desires more information about any particular location at which the child will engage in activities during the course of the day, the parent may select on one of the identifying icons/images for more information. For example, a selection of the icon/image  625  results in the display of a text box  630  containing information about the child&#39;s example piano lessons. For example, the text box  630  includes an identification that the location is at the child&#39;s piano teacher&#39;s home, an address for the piano teacher&#39;s home, and notes that may have previously been entered via a comments application for the child&#39;s piano lessons that were accessed by the data visualization application  125  for inclusion in the text box  630  for providing information upon selection of the associated identifying icon/image  625 . 
     According to embodiments, data deposited and represented on the mapping visualization may be updated dynamically. For example, a data source may be dropped onto the mapping visualization that lists a child&#39;s schedule, as described above, but that also lists time stamps and a child&#39;s GPS location (e.g., for the child&#39;s mobile telephone). The mapping visualization may have an icon, such as a thumbtack pin, showing the current location of the child relative to all of the other points of interest associated with the child&#39;s schedule. As the child moves, the mapping visualization may be dynamically updated both as to the child&#39;s location and as to the child&#39;s schedules. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 6 , according to embodiments, a user may filter on or “drill down” on a given data item to cause the data visualization application  125  to generate and display a new visualization based on a different data file or a different one or more data items. For example, referring still to the example child schedule, if the user, for example, the child&#39;s parent, selects a data item from the data file  605 , the user may cause the generation of a new or revised visualization from information associated with the selected item. For example, if the user selects on the second item in the data file  605  associated with the example soccer practice, a new data file  640  may be launched showing an example soccer schedule for an upcoming period, for example, for the next two weeks. 
     The newly launched data file may be dragged onto the mapping visualization for representation of the data from the file  640  on the mapping visualization. Referring to the data file  640 , launched in response to a selection on the example soccer practice item from the data file  605 , a list of additional data items is contained in the data file  640  associated with soccer game schedules for an upcoming period and including information such as dates of upcoming matches, opposing teams, field locations, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the user may cause the data visualization application  125  to generate a new visualization comprised of an electronic map  700  and various data item identifications for the data file  640  exposed by selecting an item from the data file  605 . As should be appreciated, the new visualization may be generated by dragging the data file  605  off of the visualization surface and leaving the data file  640  on the visualization surface to automatically cause the data visualization application  125  to generate a new visualization associated with the information contained in the data file  640 . Alternatively, when the user launches the data file  640  by selecting an item from the data file  605 , the user may select an action from a menu of actions for generating a visualization from the new data file  640 . For example, the user may right click on the displayed data file  640  to be provided with a list of actions, one of which may include the generation of a visualization from the newly exposed data file  640 . According to yet another alternative, the visualization illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be revised automatically to include graphical representations associated with data items contained in the newly exposed data field  640  to supplement the graphical representations already illustrated in the map  605  of the visualization  600 . 
     When the newly generated visualization generated, the visualization may include an electronic map  700  showing identification icons/images  715 ,  720 ,  725 ,  730  associated with the example soccer matches illustrated in the soccer schedule data file  640 . As described above with respect to previous examples, the data visualization application  125  may obtain location information for each of the data items contained in the data file  640  as well as other information about each data item from one of the data repositories,  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150 . 
     Furthermore, as described above, after the electronic map  700  is generated and after the icons/images identifying each data item are displayed at positions on the electronic map associated with locations for each data item, a user may select one of the identifying icons/images for launching a text box  735  for displaying information about the individual data item. For example, selection of the icon/image  720  may cause display of a text box  735  containing information about the soccer game  740  or match associated with the selected location including such information as field location, game time, and the like. As should be appreciated, data items within the exposed text box  735  may be selected for launching yet another data file and for causing the generation of yet another visualization comprised of another or different electronic map and showing various points of interest. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating a visualization of one or more data items on a computer-generated map. The method  800  begins at start operation  805  and proceeds to operation  810  where data is imported onto the visualization surface  105 , as described above. At operation  815 , the data visualization application  125  generates a mapping display based on the imported data. As described above, the data visualization application  125  parses the imported data and passes individual data items to one or more data sources  135 ,  140 ,  145 ,  150  for obtaining information about each data item including location information for displaying an identifying icon/image for each data item on the generated electronic map, and the data visualization application  125  obtains other information about each data item for providing in a displayed text box or dialog box upon receiving a selection of an individual identifying icon/image. 
     At operation  820 , the data visualization application  125  displays the visualization elements, including one or more charts  470 ,  205 ,  210 , mapping elements (roads, structures, rivers, and data item icons/images, on the visualization surface  105  including an electronic map showing a geographical representation of sufficient geographical area to include location identification information for each imported data item. 
     At operation  825 , filtering of imported data is enabled to allow a user to filter on individual data items or on categories of data items for dynamically changing the displayed visualization, as described above with reference to  FIG. 7 . In addition, at operation  825 , any conditional formatting applied to any data element on the mapping visualization, as described above, may be applied as warranted by the data. At operation  830 , the display of the visualization including the display of the geographic area of the electronic map and the display of various visualization elements is revised based on filtering performed by the user or based on the addition or deletion of various data items to the visualization surface  105 . In addition, at operation  830 , any live updates to the data applied to the mapping visualization, for example, live updates (changes) to data contained in a chart dropped on the mapping visualization are reflected in the visualization elements (including in the example chart and in any related visualization elements on the mapping visualization). The routine ends at operation  895 . 
     The embodiments and functionalities described herein may operate via a multitude of computing systems, including wired and wireless computing systems, mobile computing systems (e.g., mobile telephones, tablet or slate type computers, laptop computers, etc.). In addition, the embodiments and functionalities described herein may operate over distributed systems, where application functionality, memory, data storage and retrieval and various processing functions may be operated remotely from each other over a distributed computing network, such as the Internet or an intranet. User interfaces and information of various types may be displayed via on-board computing device displays or via remote display units associated with one or more computing devices. For example user interfaces and information of various types may be displayed and interacted with on a wall surface onto which user interfaces and information of various types are projected. Interaction with the multitude of computing systems with which embodiments of the invention may be practiced include, keystroke entry, touch screen entry, voice or other audio entry, gesture entry where an associated computing device is equipped with detection (e.g., camera) functionality for capturing and interpreting user gestures for controlling the functionality of the computing device, and the like.  FIGS. 9-11  and the associated descriptions provide a discussion of a variety of operating environments in which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. However, the devices and systems illustrated and discussed with respect to  FIGS. 9-11  are for purposes of example and illustration and are not limiting of a vast number of computing device configurations that may be utilized for practicing embodiments of the invention, described herein. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating example physical components of a computing device  900  with which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. The computing device components described below may be suitable for the computing devices described above, for example, the computing device  100 . In a basic configuration, computing device  900  may include at least one processing unit  902  and a system memory  904 . Depending on the configuration and type of computing device, system memory  904  may comprise, but is not limited to, volatile (e.g. random access memory (RAM)), non-volatile (e.g. read-only memory (ROM)), flash memory, or any combination. System memory  904  may include operating system  905 , one or more programming modules  906 , and may include the data visualization application  125 . Operating system  905 , for example, may be suitable for controlling computing device  900 &#39;s operation. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in conjunction with a graphics library, other operating systems, or any other application program and is not limited to any particular application or system. This basic configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 9  by those components within a dashed line  908 . 
     Computing device  900  may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device  900  may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 9  by a removable storage  909  and a non-removable storage  910 . 
     As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory  904 , including operating system  905 . While executing on processing unit  902 , programming modules  906 , such as the data visualization application  125  may perform processes including, for example, one or more method  800 &#39;s stages as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit  902  may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc. 
     Generally, consistent with embodiments of the invention, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. For example, embodiments of the invention may be practiced via a system-on-a-chip (SOC) where each or many of the components illustrated in  FIG. 9  may be integrated onto a single integrated circuit. Such an SOC device may include one or more processing units, graphics units, communications units, system virtualization units and various application functionality all of which are integrated (or “burned”) onto the chip substrate as a single integrated circuit. When operating via an SOC, the functionality, described herein, with respect to the data visualization application  125  may be operated via application-specific logic integrated with other components of the computing device/system  900  on the single integrated circuit (chip). Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems. 
     Embodiments of the invention, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. 
     The term computer readable media as used herein may include computer storage media. Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. System memory  904 , removable storage  909 , and non-removable storage  910  are all computer storage media examples (i.e., memory storage.) Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by computing device  900 . Any such computer storage media may be part of device  900 . Computing device  900  may also have input device(s)  912  such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a sound input device, a touch input device, etc. Output device(s)  914  such as a display, speakers, a printer, etc. may also be included. The aforementioned devices are examples and others may be used. 
     The term computer readable media as used herein may also include communication media. Communication media may be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a suitable mobile computing environment, for example, a mobile telephone  1000 , a smart phone, a tablet personal computer, a laptop computer, and the like, with which embodiments of the invention may be practiced. With reference to  FIG. 10A , an example mobile computing device  1000  for implementing the embodiments is illustrated. In a basic configuration, mobile computing device  1000  is a handheld computer having both input elements and output elements. Input elements may include touch screen display  1005  and input buttons  1010  that allow the user to enter information into mobile computing device  1000 . Mobile computing device  1000  may also incorporate an optional side input element  1015  allowing further user input. Optional side input element  1015  may be a rotary switch, a button, or any other type of manual input element. In alternative embodiments, mobile computing device  1000  may incorporate more or less input elements. For example, display  1005  may not be a touch screen in some embodiments. In yet another alternative embodiment, the mobile computing device is a portable phone system, such as a cellular phone having display  1005  and input buttons  1015 . Mobile computing device  1000  may also include an optional keypad  1035 . Optional keypad  1035  may be a physical keypad or a “soft” keypad generated on the touch screen display. 
     Mobile computing device  1000  incorporates output elements, such as display  1005 , which can display a graphical user interface (GUI). Other output elements include speaker  1025  and LED light  1020 . Additionally, mobile computing device  1000  may incorporate a vibration module (not shown), which causes mobile computing device  1000  to vibrate to notify the user of an event. In yet another embodiment, mobile computing device  1000  may incorporate a headphone jack (not shown) for providing another means of providing output signals. 
     Although described herein in combination with mobile computing device  1000 , in alternative embodiments the invention is used in combination with any number of computer systems, such as in desktop environments, laptop or notebook computer systems, multiprocessor systems, micro-processor based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, mini computers, main frame computers and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network in a distributed computing environment; programs may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. To summarize, any computer system having a plurality of environment sensors, a plurality of output elements to provide notifications to a user and a plurality of notification event types may incorporate embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10B  is a block diagram illustrating components of a mobile computing device used in one embodiment, such as the computing device shown in  FIG. 10A . That is, mobile computing device  1000  can incorporate system  1002  to implement some embodiments. For example, system  1002  can be used in implementing a “smart phone” that can run one or more applications similar to those of a desktop or notebook computer such as, for example, browser, e-mail, scheduling, instant messaging, and media player applications. In some embodiments, system  1002  is integrated as a computing device, such as an integrated personal digital assistant (PDA) and wireless phone. 
     One or more application programs  1066  may be loaded into memory  1062  and run on or in association with operating system  1064 . Examples of application programs include phone dialer programs, e-mail programs, PIM (personal information management) programs, word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, Internet browser programs, messaging programs, and so forth. System  1002  also includes non-volatile storage  1068  within memory  1062 . Non-volatile storage  1068  may be used to store persistent information that should not be lost if system  1002  is powered down. Applications  1066  may use and store information in non-volatile storage  1068 , such as e-mail or other messages used by an e-mail application, and the like. A synchronization application (not shown) also resides on system  1002  and is programmed to interact with a corresponding synchronization application resident on a host computer to keep the information stored in non-volatile storage  1068  synchronized with corresponding information stored at the host computer. As should be appreciated, other applications may be loaded into memory  1062  and run on the device  1000 , including the data visualization application  125 , described herein. 
     System  1002  has a power supply  1070 , which may be implemented as one or more batteries. Power supply  1070  might further include an external power source, such as an AC adapter or a powered docking cradle that supplements or recharges the batteries. 
     System  1002  may also include a radio  1072  that performs the function of transmitting and receiving radio frequency communications. Radio  1072  facilitates wireless connectivity between system  1002  and the “outside world”, via a communications carrier or service provider. Transmissions to and from radio  1072  are conducted under control of OS  1064 . In other words, communications received by radio  1072  may be disseminated to application programs  1066  via OS  1064 , and vice versa. 
     Radio  1072  allows system  1002  to communicate with other computing devices, such as over a network. Radio  1072  is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein includes both storage media and communication media. 
     This embodiment of system  1002  is shown with two types of notification output devices; LED  1020  that can be used to provide visual notifications and an audio interface  1074  that can be used with speaker  1025  to provide audio notifications. These devices may be directly coupled to power supply  1070  so that when activated, they remain on for a duration dictated by the notification mechanism even though processor  1060  and other components might shut down for conserving battery power. LED  1020  may be programmed to remain on indefinitely until the user takes action to indicate the powered-on status of the device. Audio interface  1074  is used to provide audible signals to and receive audible signals from the user. For example, in addition to being coupled to speaker  1025 , audio interface  1074  may also be coupled to a microphone to receive audible input, such as to facilitate a telephone conversation. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the microphone  920  may also serve as an audio sensor to facilitate control of notifications, as will be described below. System  1002  may further include video interface  1076  that enables an operation of on-board camera  1030  to record still images, video stream, and the like. 
     A mobile computing device implementing system  1002  may have additional features or functionality. For example, the device may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 10B  by storage  1068 . Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. 
     Data/information generated or captured by the device  1000  and stored via the system  1002  may be stored locally on the device  1000 , as described above, or the data may be stored on any number of storage media that may be accessed by the device via the radio  1072  or via a wired connection between the device  1000  and a separate computing device associated with the device  1000 , for example, a server computer in a distributed computing network, such as the Internet. As should be appreciated such data/information may be accessed via the device  1000  via the radio  1072  or via a distributed computing network. Similarly, such data/information may be readily transferred between computing devices for storage and use according to well-known data/information transfer and storage means, including electronic mail and collaborative data/information sharing systems. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a system architecture for providing content visualizations to one or more client devices, as described above. Content developed, interacted with or edited in association with a data visualization application  125  may be stored in different communication channels or other storage types. For example, various content items along with information from which they are developed may be stored using directory services  1122 , web portals  1124 , mailbox services  1126 , instant messaging stores  1128  and social networking sites  1130 . The data visualization application  125  may use any of these types of systems or the like for enabling content utilization, as described herein. A server  1120  may provide content visualizations to clients. As one example, server  1120  may be a web server providing content visualizations over the web. Server  1120  may provide online content visualizations over the web to clients through a network  1115 . Examples of clients that may obtain content visualizations include computing device  900 , which may include any general purpose personal computer, a tablet computing device  100  and/or mobile computing device  1000  which may include smart phones. Any of these devices may obtain content from the store  1116 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
     While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods&#39; stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the invention. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.