Why visualisation?

Whenever I am trying to understand something new – I end up drawing myself a picture. This might be due to my background in visual analysis but I think a lot of people do the same. The concept of using images to communicate is not a new one, early humans were doing the same things in caves several thousands of years ago!

Using visualisations for criminal and intelligence analysis has been around a while too. The idea of ‘link diagrams’ has been used by Anacapa Sciences since the 70’s. More recently it’s software products that has provided the visual analysis giving fast and efficient understanding of data.

Arcade Analytics

Having worked with a number of these products, I know that it’s not always simple. Data often needs to be moved, processed, shaped and loaded into specific tools before it can be analysed.

There are exceptions though, here in the form of Arcade Analytics. Arcade is a graph visualization tool that integrates with your existing database allowing you to find and understand the undiscovered connections in your data.

Arcade integrates with both relational and graph databases, including: Oracle, MySQL, PostgresSQL, Neo4j, OrientDB, TigerGraph and JanusGraph. I’m also told that an integration with SQL Server is on its way too.

Arcade Analytics

This means that getting from raw data to understanding connections can be a lot faster; I was analysing some of my Neo4J databases very quickly! It also means that Arcade is very appealing as part of an existing analytic solution as well as a stand-alone tool.

The interface itself is clean, crisp and intuitive to use. This idea of a simpler interface endears itself to a wider range of users, making analysis no longer a ‘back office task’

I can tell the interface has been thought about. Little touches like clever filters and the ability to select orphaned nodes make the experience very smooth.

While not as feature rich as some traditional products, this isn’t simply a visualisation tool. There are several great layouts which get the most out of your data; cola is my favourite but the standard ones like force directed are all there. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Shortest Path, which is great for finding indirect connections within your data. New features are on their way too, with Arcade’s  roadmap including both Maps and Timeline functionality.

Arcade Filters

Lastly, I can tell the interface has been thought about. Little touches like clever filters and the ability to select orphaned nodes make the experience very smooth.

Users can access Arcade from any modern browser (Google Chrome or Firefox) and is platform independent meaning it will run on Windows, Linux and Macs. Arcade’s speed and efficiency is based off of your computer’s CPU, and if a GPU is found Arcade will use it transparently to run faster!

Users can benefit from Arcade from anywhere with a cloud-based subscription option or it is also available on-premise for those dealing with larger datasets.

For more information on Arcade Analytics visit their website or contact S-branch to find out more.

S-branch offers independent advice, meaning if Arcade is not for you we can help you find the tool that is.