Jeana Frost

Comparison shopping for timelines

A look at the advantages and disadvantages of two systems for our use

Mediamatic labs is expanding our platform to include timelines of Anymeta content. After our initial research we are considering two options: a product called Timerime or an open source project called SIMILE.

To choose between these two systems we've met with the creators of Timerime, created our own timerime lines and tested SIMILE with a dataset from the mediamatic.net site.

To help us choose between the two, I’ve outlined their strengths and weaknesses in this document. Below is a summary of the primary complexities associated with each.

Summary:

SIMILE and Timerime are both timeline platforms that could support similar looking and performing timelines.

The question hinges upon whether we want to use a fully functional flash-based tool or take the time to develop SIMILE to make a non-flash version of our own. Early tests with SIMILE suggest that we could create a clean, functioning implementation but there are still some unknowns about the quality of some of the features.

While developing an open-source tool has a lot of advantages, there will be some trade-offs to functionality. A first version SIMILE timeline will probably lack functionality compared to a Timerime one including timeline sharing, printing or smooth zooming. We will also have to choose between implementing our ideal layout and time constraints. For example, it will be complicated to do a layout where the images are not next to the labels.

I’ve outlined the pluses and minuses of each system in the body of the document. The most pronounced issues are below.

Known drawbacks with SIMILE:

  1. It is not well documented. Although early testing has been promising, making changes requires some trial and error. We could face unanticipated problems.
  2. The system is slightly rigid. It is easy to make certain timelines but some of our design preferences could take time to implement.
  3. We may not be able to implement some of timerime’s functionality like sharing a timeline or printing a timeline.
  4. It is not easy to implement smooth zooming. By default it is not in there and the first implementation is not centered intuitively. We can (and have) however implemented a button to zoom in and out.

Known drawbacks with Timerime:

  1. It’s in flash so...
    • It will not work on the iphone or ipad (but the timeline is not necessarily well suited for at least the iphone)
    • We cannot release the code back to the community.
    • Users must have a Flash player installed but this version of Flash is very widely used so this is not a large concern.
    • We will not be able to make changes ourselves, we will work with a third party to do so.
  2. Some of the interaction is buggy.
  3. The design needs some tweeks to match the requirements and other Mediamatic sites.
Enlarge

First Timerime Sketch - Jeana Frost

SIMILE

SIMILE is an open-source platform to build interactive timelines and other visualizations. SIMILE is well suited for making timelines with a set format and design.

We can quickly implement a clear simple solution in SIMILE but we will have to develop the tool to customize it for our needs. Many options are not well documented so it's hard to locate the right code. Also certain functions are not well implemented. It will take some work to build a good zoom function that works as expected. And, some design choices such as separating the images from the text will require development.

That said, developers have made swift progress in implementing and altering SIMILE.
Ultimately, SIMILE provides more personal control over the product and future use of the code.

Pluses of using SIMILE:
The Platform:

  • It’s built in Javascript with Ajax libraries so can be used on mobile devices and doesn't require flash player to be installed. It's open source. It can be easily modified and debugged by Mediamatic developers.
  • The code could be released open source for other organizations and developers.

The UI:

  • Clear and easy to use. It’s particularly good for all text examples and we can work to make it clear with images.

Control over aesthetics:

  • API allows for some customization but the most flexibility stems from our ability to develop the code and change it to our liking.

Drawbacks:
Sharing:

  • Users cannot reuse timelines currently. We may be able to develop tools to do so but it's not part of the current libraries or straightforward.

Mixed:
Representing events:

  • We can use images to represent events so there is a lot of flexibility. SIMILE includes the concept of an event with a single point or duration. Periods are shown as backdrops. They cannot overlap.

Zoom:

  • There are currently only two time levels available. There is no way to change the level of zoom. In early testing we created zoom in and out buttons. Further development needed to create smooth zoom function.

Examples:
http://www.simile-widgets.org/timeline/

Timerime

Timerime is an attractive, flash-based solution with the advantage that a full time team will be there to continue the development. Timerime is a tested solution that could be distributed quickly with minor changes.

Pluses:
Support:

  • There is a full time team developing the system. They are constantly improving the design and making the tool more flexible and configurable. We can get a product up and ready to test quickly.

UI:

  • Quite clear and easy to navigate. The zoom function is pretty simple to use. Design is evolving.

Zoom:

  • The function is very smooth. Allows for easy transition between time scales so you can see the entire data set or investigate a particular data point.

Representing different types of events:

  • Right now shows single point events on the top and periods below. If an "Event" actually has a duration that is visible on mouseover. Upon request, timerime could make changes to represent events with duration as rectangles.

Minuses:
Platform:

  • It is Flash based so there are smooth animations but it cannot be viewed on an iphone or other mobile devices and cannot be translated by automated translation services. There could be some complexity implementing data exchange between timerime and Anymeta.

Mixed:
Control over aesthetics:

  • Through configuration file and with their help. The configuration file is growing with each client.