Sortable Heat Map Reordering for Interactive Data Relationships
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional heat maps, even those presented on computer displays, are static and do not facilitate user interactions to highlight various patterns in the data, making it difficult to answer questions about the strongest or weakest relationships, especially with larger data sets, which increases cognitive load on the viewer.
Innovation Solution
A method for sorting a heat map by selecting a single sorting row or column and reordering the grid according to a generated mapping order, allowing users to interactively explore data relationships and reduce cognitive load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heat map data is displayed in a fixed static view, then the display is simple and straightforward, but user ability to explore data relationships is limited and cognitive load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat map transforms from a static fixed-view display to a dynamic interactive display that responds to user selections. When a user selects a row or column, the heat map dynamically reorders and repositions data cells to highlight relationships along the selected dimension, enabling active exploration without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds an interactive dimension to the traditional two-dimensional heat map by introducing user selection as a third dimension of control. This allows users to navigate and explore data relationships by selecting rows or columns, effectively adding a temporal/interactive layer that enables exploration without increasing inherent device complexity
2Loss of information
If heat map presents data as is without sorting, then the display is simple, but detailed exploration of variable relationships requires human short-term memory
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sorting and repositioning actions based on user selection before the user needs to analyze the data. When a row or column is selected, the heat map proactively reorders cells to group and highlight related data, eliminating the need for users to hold multiple data points in short-term memory
Solution Approach 2:
The heat map applies different ordering qualities to different regions based on user selection. The selected row or column becomes the primary reference point, with data cells repositioned to emphasize relationships along that dimension, allowing detailed exploration without increasing overall cognitive load
3Reliability
If heat map is updated in real time, then the data reflects current state, but the view remains fixed and patterns are elusive
Solution Approach 1:
The heat map combines real-time data updates with dynamic reordering capabilities. As data updates occur, users can interactively select rows or columns to trigger repositioning that highlights emerging patterns, maintaining both data currency and pattern identifiability through interactive dynamics
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system and method for reordering a heat map. A specific row or column of the heat map is selected by a user (a viewer of the heat map). The user also indicates that the map is to be sorted in ascending order or descending order of intensity according to a selected row or selected column. A revised heat map is constructed in video memory by first sorting the selected row (or selected column) in ascending or descending order by intensity. This generates a mapping order for application to cells in other rows (or columns). The other rows (or columns) are then re-ordered according to the mapping. The revised heat map is then presented via the display.