Gemini: A Grammar and Recommender System for Animated Transitions in Statistical Graphics

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Information Visualization

Background:

• Animated transitions are crucial for understanding changes in visualizations.
• Designing effective animations is complex, requiring manual specification of elements, properties, and timing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Gemini, a declarative grammar and recommendation system for creating animated transitions in statistical graphics.
• To reduce the effort and potential for errors in specifying animated transitions for data visualization.

Main Methods:

• Developed Gemini, a declarative grammar defining transition steps using visual components and composition rules.
• Implemented a recommendation system that enumerates and ranks animation designs based on perceptual study data.
• Conducted formative and summative studies with visualization developers to evaluate Gemini's effectiveness and replicability.

Main Results:

• Gemini specifications allow for the creation of staged animation designs.
• The system successfully recommends animation designs, with most being replicable or editable.
• Gemini suggestions helped avoid common participant errors in animation implementation.

Conclusions:

• Gemini facilitates the design of animated transitions for statistical graphics.
• The system augments and accelerates the work of visualization designers.
• Gemini shows promise in improving the efficiency and quality of animated visualization creation.