Dimension reducing visual representation method

1. In a data visualization computer system, a method of arranging in a visual representation in n dimensions, data points representing n or more variables, the method including the steps of:

i. a data point ranking module on the data visualization computer system, ranking a set of data points with respect to a first axis of the visual representation in n dimensions using a first variable;

ii. based on a second variable, a data point distribution module on the data visualization computer system, distributing the set of data points along the first axis of the visual representation in n dimensions while retaining information relating to the ranking of data points determined in step i);

iii. based on a third variable, the data point ranking module on the data visualization computer system, ranking a set of data points with respect to a second axes of the visual representation in n dimensions; and

iv. based on the third variable, the data point distribution module on the data visualization computer system, distributing the set of data points along the second axis of the visual representation in n dimensions while retaining information relating to the ranking of data points determined in step iii).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data points represent n+1 or more variables.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further including the steps of:

v. the data point ranking module on the data visualization computer system, ranking data points with respect to one or more further axes using one or more variables; and

vi. the data point distribution module on the data visualization computer system, distributing data points along the further axes while retaining information relating to the ranking of data points determined in step v).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a maximum value on each axis is defined by data values for a particular variable.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the maximum value on each axis is defined by the sum of data values over a particular variable.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including the step of visually representing at least a subset of the arranged data points.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further including the step of visually representing supplementary information over the displayed arranged data points.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , further including the step of visually representing the supplementary information in the form of a contour or heat map.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of distributing the data points includes the step of dividing the data points between two or more regions in the visual representation.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the regions are n-dimensional regions.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the regions are arranged within the visual representation to convey information that is based on proportions of summed variables contained within the regions.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 , further including the steps of distributing data points within a region of the visual representation, by creating two or more sub-regions within the region and distributing data points between those sub-regions.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further including the steps of dividing sub-regions of the visual representation and distributing data points within the divided sub-regions until at most a single data point is contained in each sub-region.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of visually representing supplementary information in one or more empty regions.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the supplementary information is visually represented using a visual design.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further including the step of displaying data points so as to provide a complete view of information of interest.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further including the step of filtering data associated with the data points before displaying the data points.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further including the step of applying a dimension reduction technique to data associated with the data points before displaying the data points.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further including the step of selecting data associated with the data points for visual representation or selecting a view of arranged data points in order to maximize the visual representation of data or variables of interest associated with the data points.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of distributing data points includes the step of determining a unique position for each data point along each axis of the visual representation.

21. The method of claim 1 further including the step of ranking the data points using a deterministic sorting function.

22. The method of claim 21 further including the step of ranking the data points based on at least one of volume, importance, statistical ordering, statistical distance, quantity, or value.

23. A data visualization computing system for arranging, in a visual representation in n dimensions, data points representing n or more variables, the data visualization computing system comprising:

a processor device;

a memory device;

a data retrieval module arranged to retrieve data stored on the memory device from a data storage module, in communication with the data visualization computing system, wherein the retrieved data is associated with data points representing n or more variables;

a data point ranking module executable by the processor arranged to rank a set of data points with respect to a first axis of the visual representation in n dimensions using a first variable;

based on a second variable, a data point distribution module executable by the processor arranged to distribute the set of data points along the first axis of the visual representation in n dimensions while retaining information relating to the ranking of data points with respect to the first axis as determined by the data point ranking module;

based on a third variable, the data point ranking module ranking a set of data points with respect to a second axes of the visual representation in n dimensions; and

based on a the third variable, the data point distribution module distributing the set of data points along the second axis while retaining information relating to the ranking of data points with respect to the second axes of the visual representation in n dimensions as determined by the data point ranking module.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the data point ranking module is further arranged to rank data points with respect to one or more further axes using one or more variables; and the data point distribution module is further arranged to distribute data points along the further axes while retaining information relating to the ranking of data points determined by the data point ranking module.