Information presentation method

Abstract

To help understanding of important time-series data by providing a method of creating a table with one timeline from sets of time-series data with inconsistent timelines.SOLUTION: A method of creating a table that simultaneously displays multiple sets of time-series data is provided, the method comprising converting a timeline of each set of time-series data individually using an arbitrary function, and displaying the data by aligning a timeline of converted sets of time-series data with a timeline of the table.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for creating a table that displays multiple pieces of time-series data, such as a chronology or a personal history, simultaneously on the same time axis. [Background technology]

[0002] Displaying individual chronological data such as Japanese history and world history, personal history and modern history, in a single table is expected to lead to new discoveries and new understandings, and is often used as a comparative chronology or multi-chronology. In addition, with the development of electronic devices, the tables can be displayed on personal computer displays, smartphones, tablet devices, etc., making them even more convenient to use.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication 2008-40815) describes, as an embodiment, a method for easily creating a table that simultaneously displays a company history, an animation history, and a personal history. In the table, the time axis runs vertically on the display, with the company history, animation history, and personal history columns aligned along the left-hand time axis. Each piece of time series data is a photograph or text, and is aligned along the left-hand time axis.

[0004] In addition, Patent Document 2 (JP Patent Publication 2007-305024) describes, as an example, a table that simultaneously displays performing arts history and contemporary history. Its characteristic is that the time axis is a relative year based on the year of birth, and it also describes a table creation method that allows the year of birth to be freely changed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-40815 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2007-305024 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In recent years, a new academic field called Big History has been born, which comprehensively studies history from the Big Bang to the present. Important time-series data on world history, human history, climate change, and other aspects of the continuing development of humanity are being accumulated, and attempts are being made to understand this time-series data in a realistic way.

[0007] In order to experience time-series data such as history in a more realistic way, people often compare it with other time-series data that they are familiar with.

[0008] For example, a person who is good at Japanese history can create a comparative timeline with world history to experience world history in connection with Japanese history, and this can be achieved using the method described in Patent Document 1.

[0009] However, this method is less effective when there is no time series data with which one has knowledge to serve as a control.

[0010] Examples of time-series data that one is familiar with include personal histories, especially the personal histories of people one knows well, such as one's own generation or one's parents. Patent document 2 describes an example of creating a table showing one's own music history and one's parents' music history, with age as the time axis.

[0011] However, because the comparison is based only on individual histories, it cannot be applied to time series data where the time scale differs greatly from that of individual histories, such as the history of the Earth, which is on the scale of billions of years, or the division cycle of bacteria, which is on the scale of several minutes.

[0012] The present invention aims to provide a method for creating time series data with discrepancies in time axis as a table with a single time axis, thereby facilitating understanding of important time series data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] A method for creating a table that simultaneously displays multiple pieces of time series data, comprising the steps of: The process of converting the time axis of the time series data individually using any function. a step of aligning the time axis of the converted multiple time series data with the time axis of the table and displaying the data; The table creation method is characterized by comprising:

[0014] In the above table creation method, if one piece of individual time series data is the history of the Heian period and the other is a personal history, a multi-timeline that juxtaposes the Heian period and the personal history can be created by subtracting several hundred years from the time axis of only the personal history.

[0015] Furthermore, if one piece of individual time series data is Earth's history and the other is an individual's history, then by starting the time axis of only the individual's history with the year of birth (year 0), multiplying it by approximately 100 million, and subtracting 4.6 billion years, it is possible to create a multi-timeline that juxtaposes Earth's history and individual history.

[0016] Furthermore, by making the function that converts the time axis of each piece of time series data nonlinear, time series data with different time progressions can be compiled into a single table.

[0017] Cats, which are pets, reach adulthood within one year of birth, equivalent to 20 years in human terms, and thereafter grow four times faster than humans. When comparing a personal history with this cat history, a table can be created that allows a cat's life to be understood in a way that is closer to that of a human by converting only the time axis of the time series data of the personal history or cat history with a nonlinear function that takes into account the difference in growth between humans and cats. Effect of the Invention

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, time series data with inconsistent time axes can be created as a table with a single time axis, and various time series data can be understood with a sense of realism. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table of the present invention displayed on a computer display. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a window for inputting settings such as a display range of a table. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a window for inputting a name and an address of time-series data. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a window for inputting information on a function for converting a time axis. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow for displaying time-series data on a display. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table when function information is input using a pointing device. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a nonlinear time axis conversion function. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which the time axis is displayed in the vertical direction of the display. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram showing an example in which a part of the time series data in FIG. 8 is converted using the function in FIG. 7 and displayed. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which three pieces of time series data are displayed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] An example of implementing the present invention as a computer application will be described.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a multi-timeline created by an application displayed on a computer display, with a display time axis 11 running horizontally across the screen, names 12 of each time series data displayed on the left edge of the screen, data display section 13 to the right displaying each time series data, and an operation input section 14 displayed at the top of the screen.

[0022] First, when the user clicks the setting button 18 of the operation input unit 14 to set the display range of the table, etc., the input window shown in FIG. 2 is displayed.

[0023] The user inputs the start and end years of the table to be created in a valid range input field 21, the width of the time to be displayed on the display in a display width input field 22, and the width of the memory to be displayed in a memory width input field 24.

[0024] The unit to be used is selected in the display unit input field 23, and the corresponding case for negative time is selected in the minus notation field 25 from among the patterns prepared in the drop menu.

[0025] After entering all the information, the user clicks the decision button 26 .

[0026] The application creates a table of the time axis of the specified effective range in the computer memory and displays it on the display.

[0027] Next, when the user clicks the individual data designation button 15 of the operation input unit 14, the application displays the input window of FIG.

[0028] When the user inputs a name to be displayed in the table in the name input field 31, the address of an individual time-series data file in the address input field 32, and clicks the import button 33, the application reads the individual data into the computer memory.

[0029] It is preferable that the individual time series data be provided to the application in an electronic file in a common tabular format, such as CSV format.

[0030] The first few lines act as a header, describing formal information such as the type of time-series data and the starting number, and the rest of the data contains the actual information.

[0031] After the header, the first column is the time axis, and the second column and onwards are data linked to the time axis, but each column can have multiple data, such as historical information (text data) in the second column, the average temperature for that year in the third column (numerical data), etc. In that case, the user specifies the columns they will actually use in the application.

[0032] The data linked to the time axis consists of text and numbers, but if you want to display images, audio, video, etc., you need to enter the address of the memory, hard disk drive, or external site where each piece of data is stored.

[0033] Next, a function that converts the time axis of each piece of time series data is specified in the application.

[0034] When the function button 16 of the operation input unit 14 is clicked, the application displays an input window shown in FIG.

[0035] The user clicks the pull-down button 45 of the required function group, clicks the check box 41 of the function he or she wants to use from the multiple options displayed, enters a numerical value in the designated value input field 42 of the selected function, and clicks the conversion button 43 to specify the function.

[0036] When using a linear function, the application sets the start year of the time series data as the origin (year 0) and then converts the time axis using the general formula Y=a×X+b, where Y is the time after conversion, X is the time before conversion, and a and b are constants calculated from the specified values ​​entered by the user.

[0037] The user determines the function by specifying two points on the time axis, or one point on the time axis and a slope. If only one point on the time axis is specified, the slope will be 1.

[0038] As nonlinear functions, common logarithm function (Y = a × logX + b) and exponential function (Y = a × 10 X +b) are available.

[0039] In addition, nonlinear functions such as those in the graph of Figure 7 are available, and points are interpolated using straight lines or approximation curves.

[0040] When using an arbitrary function, the user clicks the check box for the user function and inputs the function in the specified format in the function input field 44 .

[0041] The operation input section 14 has a function button 16 for each individual data, and the user can specify a function for each individual data.

[0042] The application, to which the individual data and the function for conversion are specified, creates a new table in the computer memory in which the time axis of the individual data is converted by the specified function.

[0043] Furthermore, time series data for each individual data is displayed on the screen following the flow in Figure 5.

[0044] While looking at the table displayed on the screen, you can specify functions using mouse or touch operations.

[0045] When the user clicks the real-time function conversion button 17 of the individual data to be changed on the operation input unit 14, the application displays designation frames 61, 62, 63 for the individual data for which the real-time function return button 17 was pressed, as shown in FIG.

[0046] The user can drag designation box 61 with the mouse left or right parallel to the time axis 11 displayed on the display to specify the start year while keeping the end year of the linear function fixed, by doing the same with designation box 63 to specify the end year while keeping the start year fixed, or by doing the same with designation box 62 to specify both the start and end years simultaneously, thereby specifying a value equivalent to the number of years depending on the amount of drag.

[0047] In the case of touch operation, similar designation can be performed by touching and sliding the designation frames 61, 62, and 63 in the same manner as with mouse operation.

[0048] The application reconverts and redisplays the time axis of the time series data in real time according to the values ​​specified by the mouse and touch operations mentioned above.

[0049] The application can also display the timeline of the display in a vertical direction. Figure 8 shows the history of Hanako Suzuki and her cat, Nyako, without any timeline conversion.

[0050] Figure 9 shows the history of Nyako, a pet cat, by converting the time axis of the graph shown in Figure 7 and displaying the start year according to the owner.

[0051] Figure 10 shows the main events of the Heian period, the history of Sei Shonagon, and the history of Suzuki Hanako. However, only the start year of Suzuki Hanako's history is shown together with the start year of Sei Shonagon's history. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] This is explained in the specification, so it is omitted here.

Claims

1. A method for creating a table that simultaneously displays multiple pieces of time series data, comprising the steps of: The process of converting the time axis of the time series data individually using any function. a step of aligning the time axis of the converted time series data with the time axis of the table and displaying the data; A table creation method comprising:

2. 2. The table creation method of claim 1, A table creation method, characterized in that a function for transforming the time axis of time series data is a nonlinear function.

3. In the table creation method according to claim 1 or 2, A table creation method characterized in that a plurality of functions for converting the time axis of time series data are prepared in advance, and the time axis of the time series data is converted by a function selected by a user.

4. In the table creation method according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, A step of creating a function based on information inputted by a pointing device from the table displayed on the display, and re-converting the time axis of the time series data; aligning the time axis of the reconverted time series data with the time axis of the table and redisplaying the data on a display; A table creation method comprising:

5. 5. The table creation method according to claim 4, A method for creating a table, wherein the pointing device is a mouse.

6. 5. The table creation method according to claim 4, A table creation method characterized in that the pointing device is a touch panel.

7. The apparatus includes a display, an input means, a calculation means, a storage means, and a control means, 4. An information providing device comprising the algorithm according to claim 1, 2 or 3.

8. The apparatus includes a display, an input means, a calculation means, a storage means, and a control means, Providing an algorithm according to claim 4, An information providing apparatus characterized by comprising one or more pointing devices as input means.

9. The apparatus includes a display, an input means, a calculation means, a storage means, and a control means, Providing an algorithm according to claim 5, 1. An information providing device comprising a mouse as an input means.

10. The apparatus includes a display, an input means, a calculation means, a storage means, and a control means, The algorithm of claim 6, An information providing device comprising a touch panel as an input means.

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