Many different approaches have been proposed for the challenging problem of visually analyzing large networks. Clustering is one of the most promising. In this paper, we propose a new clustering technique whose goal is that of producing both intracluster graphs and intercluster graph with desired topological properties. We formalize this concept in the ▫$(X,Y)$▫-clustering framework, where ▫$Y$▫ is the class that defines the desired topological properties of intracluster graphs and ▫$X$▫ is the class that defines the desired topological properties of the intercluster graph. By exploiting this approach, hybrid visualization tools can effectively combine different node-link and matrix-based representations, allowing users to interactively explore the graph by expansion/contraction of clusters without loosing their mental map. As a proof of concept, we describe the system Visual Hybrid ▫$(X,Y)$▫-clustering (VHYXY) that implements our approach and we present the results of case studies to the visual analysis of social networks.
COBISS.SI-ID: 16097881