Hyperbolic Browser

Updated: September 7, 2010; G. Waloszek

Older version of the hierarchical browser

Hierarchical browser by InXight (StarTree)

Figure 1: An older version of the hyperbolic browser

Figure 2: An implementation of the hyperbolic browser, marketed by InXight (now called Star Tree)

 

Purpose

Focus+Context technique for displaying large tree structures. The current node is displayed enlarged while peripheral nodes are displayed smaller but still provide the context for the current node. A geometric transformation into the hyperbolic plane and then into a circle is used for this purpose.

Applications

Display of large tree structures like directory trees, Website structures etc.

Commercial Marketing

The hyperbolic browser was marketed by InXight, a Xerox offspring, under the name Star Tree. InXight was acquired by BusinessObjects in 2007, which itself was acquired by SAP AG in 2008. The current status of the Star Tree product is unknown.

Authors, date

Lamping, Rao, et al.; 1994-96

Links, Papers

  • Lamping, J., Rao R. (1996). Visualizing Large Trees Using the Hyperbolic Browser. Proc. ACM CHI '96 Conference (www.acm.org/sigchi/chi96/proceedings/videos/Lamping/hb-video.html)
  • Lamping, J., Rao R. & Pirolli, P. (1995). A focus+context technique based on hyperbolic geometry for visualizing large hierarchies. Proc. ACM CHI '95 Conference, 401-408.
  • Rao, R. & Card, S.K.(1994). The table lens: Merging graphical and symbolic representations in an interactive focus+context visualization of tabular information. Proc. ACM CHI '94 Conference, 318-322.