The iceberg metaphor to support the knowledge crystallization cycle

Information visualization is focused on abstract non-numerical data. To support any user to explore this information the knowledge crystallization cycle was defined. We have developed the iceberg metaphor which can be used to support the user in every single step of this knowledge crystallization cycle. The iceberg can be filled with almost any kind of abstract information. Then the iceberg metaphor can be used to perform a classification as well as a filtering of the information. Using this metaphor for visualization is very simple but effective because the graphical presentation correspondents to the information-inherent structure. Additionally, with the developed iceberg browser all interactions concerning the knowledge crystallization are controllable. Thus, we have found a very simple but effective way to support the user in the formation of knowledge with one single metaphor