SpicyNodes explained

SpicyNodes was a system for displaying hierarchical data, in which a focus node displays detailed information, and the surrounding nodes represent related information (Focus + Context), with a layout based on radial maps. It has web (Flash) and mobile (iOS) implementations. It has ended operation as of 1 January 2018.

Overview

SpicyNodes displays a central node, orbited by related (child) nodes. Each child node can be linked to other child nodes. As the user navigates (changes focus) from node to node, a root path traces the path back to the home node. In a typical implementation, only child and ancestor nodes are displayed. When the user browses, nodes appear and disappear, and the layout rearranges to fit. It is a generic method, with uses ranging from dynamic poetry,^[1] to mind mapping and concept mapping.^{[2] [3]}

Advantages

• Visual browsing – Similar to other concept mapping tools, SpicyNodes allows authors to display visual thoughts and links between information, and publish an information map for users to browse.^[4]
• Non-linear – Users can jump from node to node, or descend into a tree to find specific information. Since the number of nodes increases exponentially with the number of orbits, a user can find a piece of information in only N clicks/taps, while navigating a space of X^N nodes, where X=average nodes per orbit. Conversely, node layouts are inefficient for reading contiguous pieces of content in a linear manner.^[5]

Disadvantages

• Displays a subset – Only a limited number of nodes can fit on a typical screen at once, which requires a large enough screen to fit the nodes, and means it is usually not possible to display all the nodes simultaneously.
• Balanced branches – Layouts only make sense if there are balanced branches with fewer than two dozen child nodes. A typical implementation requires an average of 2-10 linked/child nodes per node. Too few, and the layout becomes a string of pearls. Too many, and the nodes do not fit.^[6]

Background

SpicyNodes is a radial tree layout engine, modified using force-based algorithms, bias controls, and variable pivot point. It also uses an approach similar to hyperbolic trees to reduce sizes far from the focus node. Key aspects of the method are publicly described.^[7] The layout is adaptive, changing as the user clicks from node to node, to minimize cluttering. Nodes can contain any content (formatted text, images, videos, etc.) or links to other nodes or content. There is a "focus" node, and users change focus from node to node.

The algorithm was developed by Michael Douma and colleagues at IDEA.org, starting in 2005. The layout algorithm is based on the work of Yee and his associates,^[8] and the underlying mechanics have been further described in papers and talks at conferences on Information visualization, on Museums and the Web,^[9] and on distance education.^[10]

Early implementations include:

(a) Genealogical browser of the Greek Gods released in March 2006 in the WebExhibits online museum.^{[11] [12]} The family tree browser was used as a teaching resource in Russel Rice's high school 'Mythology' course.^[13]

(b) A master's thesis in 2007.^[14]

(c) Virtual exhibit navigation for three online exhibits (Daylight Saving Time, Calendars, Poetry forms) released in 2008 in the WebExhibits online museum.^{[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}

Current implementations

• Web-based – A web-based platform for authoring and publishing node maps.^{[20] [21]} is available as a Software as a service, built on Adobe Flash, provided with both free and paid versions by the original development team at IDEA.org, launched in 2009. It has an open API.^[22] Received a "Best Website for Teaching and Learning" award in 2011 from American Association of School Librarians (AASL),^[23] and voted #edchat's 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools in 2010.^[24]

It has been used for presentations in professional conferences and meetings.^{[25] [26]}

There are third party guides,^{[27] [28]} reviews regarding general usage,^[29] and instructional design.^{[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]}

The web implementation allows embedding in a blog,^[39] and can also be run as a form of slide show where each node corresponds to a slide.^[40]

• Multitouch – The first multitouch implementation of SpicyNodes was as part of the WikiNodes multitouch Wikipedia browser for the Apple iPad, and launched in April 2011.^[41]

Related, but different implementations

For authoring, there are related mind mapping and concept mapping products, such as FreeMind.^[42] Typically these do not allow the end user to change focus from node to node. For display, there is analogous software for moving node to node, including: Visual Thesaurus from ThinkMap, TuneGlue, Lexipedia, and Prefuse Flare, and the Discovr apps. (The Discovr app, which also uses radial layouts, with a different layout algorithm which is primarily force-based.)

See also

• IDEA.org – the organization that researched and developed the method
• Radial tree – the general type of layout algorithm

External links

• Web site: Home . SpicyNodes . http://web.archive.org/web/20230924170148/https://www.spicynodes.org/ . 24 September 2023.

Notes and References

1. Spicy Poetry . Peters . Tom . 7 . Smart Libraries Newsletter . American Library Association . XXIX . 6, OCLC Reveals its Strategy for Library Automation . June 2009 .
2. Book: Chapter 11: Online Mind Mapping . Carl . Anderson . Richard . Byrne . What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media . Scott . McLeod . Chris . Lehmann . John Wiley & Sons . 2012 . 1118022246.
3. Wan . Ng . Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? . Computers & Education . 59 . 3 . November 2012 . 1065–1078 . 10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016.
4. Holotescu. Carmen. Grosseck. Gabriela. 2011. M3-learning - Exploring mobile multimedia microblogging learning. World Journal on Educational Technology. 3. 3. 168–176.
5. Web site: Sheth . Nihar . Cai . Qin. Visualizing MeSH Dataset using Radial Tree Layout. Indiana University, Bloomington . 29 April 2003.
6. Web site: Katy . Börner . Katy Börner . Science of Science Research and Tools Tutorial #07 of 12. 19 July 2010.
7. Douma . Michael . Greg . Ligierko . Ovidiu . Ancuta . Pavel . Gritsai . Sean . Liu . SpicyNodes: Radial Layout Authoring for the General Public . IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics . 15 . 6 . 2009 . 10.1109/TVCG.2009.183.
8. Ka-Ping . Yee . D. . Fisher . R. . Dhamija . M. . Hearst . Animated Exploration of Dynamic Graphs with Radial Layout . IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization . 2001 . San Diego, CA . 43–50 . 10.1109/INFVIS.2001.963279.
9. Concept Maps for On-line Exhibits: Using SpicyNodes . Archives & Museum Informatics: Museums and the Web 2010 . Douma . Michael. Greg . Ligierko . Joseph . Romano . 13 April 2010 . Denver, CO.
10. Douma . Michael. Greg . Ligierko . Joseph . Romano . Creating Online Mind Maps and Concept Maps . 25th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning . Madison, WI . 4 August 2009 . .
11. Web site: Interactive Greek Gods Family Tree. webexhibits.org.
12. Web site: Week of August 22, 2010. 4kids.org . 22 August 2010.
13. Web site: Mythology. Mr. Rice . 7 January 2009.
14. Trellis: A Blog-Based Approach to the Development, Organization, and Visualization of Ideas. 10415/932. 15 August 2007. Thesis. Felix. Michael.
15. Web site: Neat Rox. WebExhibits Presents Daylight Savings Time Nodes. Neat Gemstones. 27 October 2008.
16. Web site: Websites . Cornerstones of Science . 2011-08-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110814001836/http://cornerstonesofscience.org/websites-children.aspx .
17. Web site: Daylight Saving Time - Why, When, Where? . Web Exhibits . http://web.archive.org/web/20080312155425/http://webexhibits.org:80/daylightsaving/nodes.html . 12 March 2008.
18. Web site: Node View - Calendars. Web Exhibits . http://web.archive.org/web/20100723012003/http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/nodes.html . 23 July 2010.
19. Web site: Node view: Poetry through the Ages. Web Exhibits . https://web.archive.org/web/20080926052422/http://www.webexhibits.org/poetry/nodes.html . 26 September 2008.
20. Noor Haitham Saleem . Manjit Singh Sidhu . Naser Adnan . Nameer A. Shafeek . Maha.M.Ablahd Yousif . 12 July 2011. Interactive Patterns of Interactions for a Mind Mapping Multimedia Courseware. 7th International Conference on IT in Asia (CITA) . Sarawak, Malaysia . 10.1109/CITA.2011.5999504.
21. Children's Reading of Printed Text and Hypertext with Navigation Overviews: The Role of Comprehension, Sustained Attention, and Visuo-spatial Abilities . Ladislao . Salmerón . Victoria . García . 2012 . Journal of Educational Computing Research . 47 . 1 . 33–50 . 10.2190/EC.47.1.b.
22. Web site: Spicynodes API. ProgrammableWeb. 14 December 2010 . http://web.archive.org/web/20101224192246/http://www.programmableweb.com/api/spicynodes . 24 December 2010.
23. Web site: Best Websites for Teaching & Learning . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713093151/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/bestlist/bestwebsitestop25.cfm. 2011-07-13. American Library Association.
24. Web site: The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You. https://web.archive.org/web/20100827104013/http://edudemic.com/2010/07/the-35-best-web-2-0-classroom-tools-chosen-by-you/. 2010-08-27. EduDemic . 8 July 2010.
25. Web site: オススメの大学図書館ってありますか？ - アクセス・蔵書数・快適さ・口コミなどを各大学調べてみた. calcweb.org . ja.
26. Web site: k12webware - newtricks. wikispaces.com.
27. Web site: Herramientas colaborativas-Spicynodes. slideboom.com.
28. Web site: Tech Tip: www.spicynodes.com . 2011-05-14 . 2011-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110823182025/http://opc6467spring2011.wiki.westga.edu/file/view/6467_Tech%20Tip%20Spicynodes_spf.pdf.
29. Web site: Spicy Nodes A Way To Visualize Online Information! . Geek Outpost . http://web.archive.org/web/20110711081419/http://www.geekoutpost.com/2009/10/spicy-nodes-visualize-online-information/#340d3 . 11 July 2011.
30. Web site: Spicynodes: Mindmapping plus. 18 August 2010 . Instructional Design Fusions.
31. Web site: Spicynodes, a powerful mind-mapping tool . 2010-08-27 . 2010-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100829054058/http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/spicynodes-a-powerful-mind-mapping-tool/ . What Ed Said . 26 August 2010.
32. Web site: SpicyNodes- an online mindmapping tool . Diary of an Educational Developer . Kane . Lauren . 2 August 2010 . http://web.archive.org/web/20110708050113/http://laurenkane1.blogspot.com/2010/08/spicynodes-online-mindmapping-tool.html . 8 July 2011.
33. Web site: Unique Notions: Spicynodes for Mind Mapping / Course Mapping . itjil.blogspot.com . 12 June 2010.
34. Web site: Nodes and Birds. universeastext.com.
35. Web site: Edu Technophobia.
36. Web site: Genera nodos de pensamiento con SpicyNodes. Edumorfosis. 25 August 2010 . es.
37. Web site: Spicy Nodes: My NEW Favorite Presentation Tool . Teachers as Technology Trailblazers . 28 October 2009 . Swanson . Kristen . 2010-08-29 . 2009-12-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091222072527/http://www.kristenswanson.org/2009/10/spicy-nodes-my-new-favorite.html.
38. Web site: SPICYNODES: Free, Web Based Mind, Map Service . DE Tools Of The Trade . http://web.archive.org/web/20110706175017/http://www.detools.ca/?p=2410 . 6 July 2011 . 12 October 2009.
39. Web site: Embedding an interactive mindmap into your blog – SpicyNodes.org . Technology Enhanced Learning . Mark . Glynn . 28 March 2012.
40. Web site: Sally . Garza. Creative presentation tools. slideshare.net. 12 August 2010.
41. Web site: WikiNodes Brings A New Perspective To Knowledge » 148Apps » iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch App Reviews and News. 148Apps.
42. Web site: Franck . Maintenay. SpicyNodes: dynamisez vos cartes Freemind/Freeplane. Freemind par l'exemple... . fr . http://web.archive.org/web/20100903195115/http://www.freemindparlexemple.fr/2010/08/spicynodes-dynamisez-vos-cartes.html . 3 September 2010 . 25 August 2010.