A Multi-Layout Approach to Immersive Visualization of Network Data

Network data plays a vital role in much of today's visualization research. However, there is no optimal graph layout for all possible tasks. The choice of layout heavily depends on the type of network and the task at hand and is often limited by the nature of traditional desktop setups. Recent studies have shown the potential of extended reality (XR) in the immersive exploration of network data. We introduce a multi-layout approach that allows users to effectively explore hierarchical network data in immersive space. The system leverages different layout techniques and interactions to provide an optimal view of the data depending on the task and the level of detail required to solve it. To evaluate our approach, we have conducted a user study comparing our design against the state of the art for immersive network visualization. Participants performed tasks at varying spatial scopes. The results show that our approach outperforms the baseline in spatially focused scenarios as well as when the whole network needs to be considered.