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Discovery of Working Discovery of Working Activities by Email AnalysisActivities by Email Analysis

Yueyu Fu & Hong ZhangYueyu Fu & Hong Zhang

School of Library and Information School of Library and Information ScienceScience

Indiana UniversityIndiana University

JCDL’03, May 31JCDL’03, May 31thth, 2003 , 2003

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OutlineOutline

• MotivationMotivation

• Visualization GoalVisualization Goal

• System DesignSystem Design

• ConclusionConclusion

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MotivationMotivation

Explore working activity Explore working activity involved in email involved in email communication using communication using Treemap algorithm. Treemap algorithm.

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BackgroundBackground

• Use of EmailUse of Email• Communication Communication • Personal archiving Personal archiving • Task managementTask management

• ProblemProblemAs the number of email we exchange increase As the number of email we exchange increase at a high rate, it’s getting hard to manage at a high rate, it’s getting hard to manage personal email box.personal email box.

• Related researchRelated research• Thread – based VisualizationThread – based Visualization• Time – based VisualizationTime – based Visualization

• Examples: Examples: Timestore, Outlook 2000 and NEC’s Timestore, Outlook 2000 and NEC’s VisualMail VisualMail

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Visualization GoalVisualization Goal

• GoalGoal - Explore working activity involved in email - Explore working activity involved in email communication using Treemap algorithm. communication using Treemap algorithm.

• User AnalysisUser Analysis• Intended audience - any one communicating Intended audience - any one communicating

extensively with others by email. For instance, extensively with others by email. For instance, programmers email each other to solve programming programmers email each other to solve programming bugs.bugs.

• Task AnalysisTask Analysis• Identify the email patterns by the sender informationIdentify the email patterns by the sender information• Identify the email patterns by the subject informationIdentify the email patterns by the subject information• Display email contentDisplay email content

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Data Analysis & Data MiningData Analysis & Data Mining

• Dataset size: 1695 emailsDataset size: 1695 emails• Data format: MS Access tableData format: MS Access table• Dataset topic: Software developmentDataset topic: Software development• Data attributes: subject, sender, body, Data attributes: subject, sender, body,

receiver, & etc.receiver, & etc.

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Hierarchical Structure of Hierarchical Structure of Dataset Dataset

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DesignDesign

• Each email will be represented as a rectangular in Each email will be represented as a rectangular in the Treemap.the Treemap.

• Two interfaces will be provided.Two interfaces will be provided.• Emails will be grouped together by subject or Emails will be grouped together by subject or

sender. sender. • The colors represent different subjects or senders.The colors represent different subjects or senders.• Quick tooltip will be shown when the mouse is Quick tooltip will be shown when the mouse is

placed over a specific rectangular. placed over a specific rectangular. • After clicking the rectangular assigned to an email, After clicking the rectangular assigned to an email,

a pop-up window containing email content will be a pop-up window containing email content will be shown.shown.

• The control panel will allow user to manipulate the The control panel will allow user to manipulate the Treemap to get an optimal view. Treemap to get an optimal view.

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User Interface Overview User Interface Overview

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Interface I – Individual Interface I – Individual activities activities

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Interface II – Component Interface II – Component distribution distribution

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Interactive Function: Tooltip Interactive Function: Tooltip

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Interactive Function: Pop-up Interactive Function: Pop-up Window Window

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Selected ReferencesSelected References• C. Bouthier, Treemap visualization package, 2001. C. Bouthier, Treemap visualization package, 2001.

Available at Available at http://treemap.sourceforge.nethttp://treemap.sourceforge.net. .

• J. Baumgartner, Y. Zou, and K. Börner, Space Filling or J. Baumgartner, Y. Zou, and K. Börner, Space Filling or Treemap Algorithms at Treemap Algorithms at http://http://iv.slis.indiana.edu/treemap.htmliv.slis.indiana.edu/treemap.html

• S. L. Rohall, D. Gruen, P. Moody and S. Kellerman, “Email S. L. Rohall, D. Gruen, P. Moody and S. Kellerman, “Email Visualiztions to Aid Communications”, Late-Breading Visualiztions to Aid Communications”, Late-Breading Topics, Topics, Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Information VisualizationInformation Visualization, October 22-23, 2001, San , October 22-23, 2001, San Diego, CA., pp. 12-15.Diego, CA., pp. 12-15.

• S. Sudarsky and R. Hjelsvold, “Visualizing Electronic S. Sudarsky and R. Hjelsvold, “Visualizing Electronic Mail”, International Conference on Information Mail”, International Conference on Information Visualization, 10-12 July 2002, London, England, UK., pp. Visualization, 10-12 July 2002, London, England, UK., pp. 3-9. 3-9.

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Thank you!Thank you!

Any questions?Any questions?

Contact Contact

Yueyu FuYueyu Fuyufu@indiana.eduyufu@indiana.edu

Laboratory for Applied Informatics ResearchLaboratory for Applied Informatics ResearchIndiana UniversityIndiana University