Every day vast amounts of information flood into business databases. To achieve their corporate objectives, companies try to evaluate information relevant to their activities as effectively as possible.

In the day-to-day working environment they use business intelligence programs to collect, evaluate and present data.

But many of the current analytical methods can only display information statically, as lists or reports. Visualization techniques help to present the information in a form that can be more easily understood.

Attached is the February 2010 edition of the Integrated Visualization and Analytics Community (iVAC) Newsletter. The Basic/Futures Research (BFR) Program believes that regular communication is one of the most effective ways to enable our Data and Visual Analytics enterprise to flourish.

The iVAC Newsletter is envisioned as a coordinating function for the various activities coming out of the BFR program, international university partners and other government agencies.

The thought is to present and share knowledge of these initiatives, accomplishments in various areas (technology, publications, new funding, etc.), up-coming conferences and events, and other significant happenings to the entire community.

Attached is the January 2010 edition of the Integrated Visualization and Analytics Community (iVAC) Newsletter. The Basic/Futures Research Program believes that regular communication is one of the most effective ways to enable our Data and Visual Analytics enterprise to flourish.

The iVAC Newsletter is envisioned as a coordinating function for the various activities coming out of the National Visualization and Analytics Center, the Command, Control and Interoperability Center of Excellence, international university partners and other government agencies.

The thought is to present and share knowledge of these initiatives, accomplishments in various areas (technology, publications, new funding, etc.), up-coming conferences and events, and other significant happenings to the entire community.

Volume graphics deals with the analysis, synthesis and presentation of volumetric phenomena, both static and time-varying. Specifically, it includes topics, both volumetric and point-based, related to the acquisition, reconstruction and transformation of volume data as well as feature analysis, information extraction and rendering. Research papers are solicited that present original, unpublished results concerning all aspects of volume graphics and point-based graphics. We especially invite research contributions that report computational techniques.

The aim of this work is to survey and reflect on the various ways visualization and data mining can be integrated to achieve effective knowledge discovery by involving the best of human and machine capabilities. Following a bottom-up bibliographic research approach, the article categorizes the observed techniques in classes, highlighting current trends, gaps, and potential future directions for research.

The VACCINE team gathered at Purdue University on November 9, 2009, to celebrate the official kick-off of this component of the new Command, Control and Interoperability Center of Excellence. Indiana Representatives Stephen Buyer and Mark Souder lent their voices in support of VACCINE and its mission. DHS officials Starnes Walker, Matthew Clark and Joe Kielman spoke at the event, emphasizing VACCINE’s research to reality goals.

Dr. Walker said the Center’s projects will help Homeland Security and emergency personnel prepare for, prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other emergencies.

This and more news in the iVAC Newsletter of November 2009.

The 10th International Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI2010) will be held in Rome, Italy, May 25-29, 2010. Started in 1992 in Rome, and held every two years in different Italian towns, the Conference brings together experts in different areas of computer science who have a common interest in the conception, design, and implementation of visual and, more generally, perceptual interfaces.

The new iVAC Newsletter for October ‘09 has arrived!

This is the twentieth in a series of Annual Conferences supported by the European Commission, which regularly attracts over 650 delegates from leading commercial, government and research organisations around the world to share knowledge and experience, lessons learnt and good practice.

Graphics become Smart Graphics when their design and implementation are grounded in an understanding of human abilities, activities, and motivations from design experience and the broad spectrum of cognitive and social sciences.