On Visual Abstraction Ivan Viola Visual Abstraction Fundamental - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

On Visual Abstraction Ivan Viola

Visual Abstraction Fundamental concept in visualization and visual arts Somewhat intuitively understood A formal definition not available VAD textbook refers to task and data abstraction Map generalization: abstraction in cartography from detailed into small-scale map (selection, simplification, combination, smoothing, enhancement, displacement, exaggeration, aggregation) [Ruas 2008] Ivan Viola 2

Abstraction Abstract; Latin abstrahere = drawn away Abstract math, abstract algebra, … Abstract art Abstract data Abstract class Abstraction a conceptual process where general rules and concepts are derived from the usage and classification of specific examples, literal ( real or concrete ) signifiers, first principles, or other methods. An abstraction is the outcome of this process. Also termed as a concept . Ivan Viola 3

Uses of Abstraction Modeling – better comprehend a phenomenon, understanding its essence rather than memorizing its instantiation Ontologies – classify objects or phenomena based on their abstract relation Analogies – transfer properties associated with an object or phenomenon once we discover some abstract conceptual equivalence Metaphors – augment an abstraction with a concrete, tangible example accessible to the audience than its natural occurence Ivan Viola 4

What is (and what is not) Visual Abstraction Abstract art is art with visual elements: color, shape, points, lines Line drawing of a figure is a visual abstraction of that figure Is visual mapping equivalent to visual abstraction? Abstraction of visual data Abstraction by visual means What is a minimal transformation that would qualify as visual abstraction? (Just-Noticeable-Abstraction?) Is rotation a visual abstraction? Is cropping a visual abstraction? Is projection onto image plane a visual abstraction? Ivan Viola 5

Definition Visual abstraction is a concept-preserving transformation used in visual arts and data visualization, which transforms (digital) information into visual representations by removing details attributed to natural variation, noise, etc. Mondrian: Trees to Abstraction Ivan Viola 6

Axes of Visual Abstraction Geometric abstraction axis operates in object space: topological methods, iso-surface extraction, projection, statistical shape models Photometric abstraction axis relates to rendering and how realistic is the illu- mination model: global illumination, local illumination, contour and line drawing generators Temporal abstraction describes the abstractions of dynamic phenomena: event extraction, trajectory simplification Ivan Viola 7

Gradually Abstracting Spatial Characteristics [Kolesar et al. 2017] Ivan Viola 8

Visual Abstraction of Flow Simulations [Weinkauf and Theisel 2004] Ivan Viola 9

Visual Abstraction in DNA Nanotechnology [Miao et al. 2018] Ivan Viola 10

Task for You Visual abstraction is a foundational element of visualization and needs our attention to formally define it http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8025425/ Ivan Viola 11