Re: [matplotlib-devel] New plot type idea -- EventRaster

[Michael D. <md...@st...>]

On 09/26/2012 04:35 AM, Todd wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 3:33 PM, Todd <tod...@gm... 
> <mailto:tod...@gm...>> wrote:
>
>     I would like to add a new plot type to matplotlib.  Of course I am
>     willing to implement it myself, but I want to confirm that it is
>     acceptable and iron out the implementation details and API first
>     so there are no major surprises when I submit it.
>
>     I tentatively am calling the plot type an "EventRaster" plot (name
>     suggestions, along with any other suggestions, are welcome).  The
>     plot is made up if horizontal rows of identical vertical lines
>     and/or markers.  Each line or marker represents a discrete event,
>     and each row represents a single sequence of events (such as a
>     trial).  The x-axis position of the line or marker identifies the
>     location of the event by some measure. An example of what such a
>     plot often looks like is below.
>
>     http://hebb.mit.edu/courses/9.29/2003/athena/dylanh/quad-rast.gif
>
>     This sort of plot is used ubiquitously in neuroscience.  It is
>     used to show the time of discrete neural (brain cell) events
>     (called "spikes") over time in repeated trials, and is generally
>     called a spike raster, raster plot, or raster graph.  However, it
>     can be used in any situation where you are only concerned with the
>     position of events but not their amplitude, especially if you want
>     to look for patterns in those events or look for differences
>     between multiple sequences of events.
>
>     Plotting the timing of events is an obvious use case, such as
>     photons hitting photodetectors, radioactive decay events, arrival
>     of patients to hospitals, calls to hotlines, or car accidents in
>     cities.  However, the events do not have to be relative to time. 
>     It could be position, for example, such as tree rings along bore
>     holes, road crossings along railroad tracks, layers in sediment
>     cores, or particular sequences along a DNA strands.
>
>     I'll cover possible implementation details in the next email if
>     everyone thinks this is a good idea.
>
>
> So does anyone think this would be a useful plot type?  If so I can 
> explain how I plan to implement it and we can discuss changes or 
> improvements to that.

Sorry to not get back to you sooner -- a number of us are busy here 
getting the 1.2.0 release ready at the moment.  I think this is 
definitely a worthwhile plot type to add.  Similar plots are used in 
Computer Science, for example, to visualize the execution of 
multi-threaded applications, or other scheduling problems.  I'd 
personally use it for that.

So, yes, let's start talking implementation.  Or, if easier, you could 
just submit a pull request and we can go from there.  Whatever method 
seems most appropriate to you.

Cheers,
Mike