Layout-independent fisheye views of nested graphs

Although a graph can be a useful device for visualizing complex relationships, drawings of large graphs can be difficult to comprehend. As one remedy, we formulated a novel generalized approach for generating fisheye views of nested graphs with multiple variable focal points, and devised an algorithm that creates fisheye views in the absence of application specific distance metrics. Previous solutions produced fisheye views by filtering or distorting drawings of graphs. Since these approaches relied on geometric notions of distance, they could only be applied effectively in limited cases. By contrast, our approach treats fisheye view generation as a phase that precedes graph layout, rather than as a technique that alters an existing drawing, and does not suffer these drawbacks.>