Information visualization is an increasingly important research and development area, crucial for the success of the information revolution. This workshop focuses on visualizing information and how users interact with digital information. Co-chaired by Nahum Gershon (The MITRE Corp.) and Jacques-Emile Dubois (CODATA International) it has an international committee of visualization experts from nine countries. The goals of the workshop are to bring together researchers and developers in information visualization from Europe, United States, and Canada for intensive brain-storming to accomplish the following: survey current activity in information visualization in Europe and the United States; identify research and development issues in visualization; and forge research collaborations between the United States and Europe. Although there has been a great deal of development of methods for visualizing diverse types of data and information, few algorithms and methods have been implemented to solve real-world problems, especially in North America. Since more research and development have been targeted at solving real problems effectively in Europe, they are ahead of U. S. research and development in applying visualization to operational environments. The focal point of this workshop is implementing visualization methodology. Combining the North American and European expertise is expected to result in enhanced effectiveness of visualization, enabling better communication of information and more effective use of the information highways, reducing the number of documents end users such as journalists must access.
