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Querying and browsing of databases is a task exclusively done by experts that have mastered the query language and are familiar with a database΄s schema. We show how tag clouds can be used alongside more traditional query languages and data visualisation techniques as a means for browsing and querying databases by both experts and non-expert users. Our approach is based on a general, extensible framework that supports different modes of visualisation as well as different database systems. We have validated our prototype with a user study that has shown how non-experts were able to browse and retrieve data that usually would only be possible by means of queries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epigenome describes the collection of chromatin modifications that are stable through cell division and are apparently indicative of cell type. Epigenetic features include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and other aspects of chromatin organisation. Genome browsers were developed as part of the human genome project to visualise and organise genomic data and analysis using the common index of the genome sequence. These browsers and other tools are now being expanded to support the growing collection of epigenomic data. Ideally viewing data in genome browsers allows researchers to better understand their own data, draw new scientific conclusions, and present their data to others in a visually appealing and intuitive way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of portals are available nowadays to support diverse purposes such as commercial, publishing, personal, affinity and corporate portals. Affinity portals promote electronic communities who share common interest such as a special interest group (SIG). Knowledge portal is an emerging trend that benefits the existing portal technology by designing such portals with proper representation of the members΄ shared knowledge. Besides textual representation for diverse expertise levels, graphical visualisation will be able to support the requirements in searching and representing expertise level among e-community. There is a number of existing SIG portals available. However, they do not visualise effectively and accurately the expertise level of members and make it difficult for users to search their targeted experts for instance searching the highest expertise level to have a discussion and to solve their problems related to a project. The goal of this paper is to propose a graphical visualisation of expertise level method (VisEL) using an interactive tag cloud technique that represents expertise level of each member based on their knowledge in a software engineering SIG portal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]