Visualizing Program Executions on Large Data Sets Using Semantic Zooming

Abstract

Understanding and interpreting a large data source is an important but challenging operation in many technical disciplines. Computer visualization has become a valuable tool to help capture and portray characteristics of large data sets. In software visualization, illustrating the operation of very large programs or programs working on very large data sets has remained one of the key open problems. Here, we introduce an approach that uses semantic zooming to depict large program executions. Our method utilizes abstract, clustered graphics to portray program operations on the entire data set. Then, by interacting with the presentation, a viewer can zoom in to examine details and individual values. At this "magnified" level, the presentation adjusts to reflect displays common in existing algorithm animation and program visualization systems.