Introduction to interactive graphics

Why?

• Deeper exploration of data than static plots
• Immediate feedback on how data/figures/results change when inputs are modified
• User becomes an active participant in the analysis
• Exploratory analysis, teaching, reporting

• rgl https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/rgl high level functions for 3D interactive graphics
• iplots https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/iplots interactive graphics with R (last released in 2013, but can be interesting…)
• (gg)plotly https://plot.ly/r (pricing plan for using the cloud): easily convert ggplot2 graphics to interactive graphics
• googleVis https://cran.r-project.org/package=googleVis (but limited interactivity)
• ggvis http://ggvis.rstudio.com
• rCharts https://ramnathv.github.io/rCharts
• rbokeh https://hafen.github.io/rbokeh
• … (and probably many more…)

Evaluation of the different solution on http://ouzor.github.io/blog/2014/11/21/interactive-visualizations.html (maybe a bit outdated).

library(rgl)
x <- sort(rnorm(1000))
y <- rnorm(1000)
z <- rnorm(1000) + atan2(x, y)
plot3d(x, y, z, col = rainbow(1000))

• Open a new graphic device outside R or Rstudio

• Zoom and rotation using the mouse

x <- seq(-10, 10, length = 30)
y <- x
f <- function(x, y) { r <- sqrt(x^2 + y^2); 10 * sin(r)/r }
z <- outer(x, y, f)
z[is.na(z)] <- 1
open3d()
bg3d("white")
material3d(col = "black")
persp3d(x, y, z, aspect = c(1, 1, 0.5), col = "lightpink",
        xlab = "X", ylab = "Y", zlab = "Sinc( r )")

• The Obligatory Mathematical surface!

• Many other possibilities: cube3d, decorated3d, ellipse3d…

library(iplots)
data(cars)
iplot(cars$speed, cars$dist, ptDiam=8)
ihist(cars$speed)

• Interactivity between several graphical devices opened outside R or Rstudio

• Points selected on one plot are highlighted on the others

library(MASS)
data(Cars93)
imosaic(Cars93$AirBags, Cars93$DriveTrain)
ibar(Cars93$AirBags)
ibar(Cars93$DriveTrain)