A visual data mining environment

It cannot be overstated that the knowledge discovery process still presents formidable challenges. One of the main issues in knowledge discovery is the need for an overall framework that can support the entire discovery process. It is worth noting the role and place of visualization in such a framework. Visualization enables or triggers the user to use his/her outstanding visual and mental capabilities, thereby gaining insight and understanding of data. The foregoing points to the pivotal role that visualization can play in supporting the user throughout the entire discovery process. The work reported in this chapter is part of a project aiming at developing an open data mining system with a visual interaction environment that supports the user in the entire process of mining knowledge. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.