Triangular Models for Studying and Memorising Temporal Knowledge

The study of a lot of disciplines (e.g. history, geology, archaeology and politics) is often connected to temporal information. The nature of temporal information can be very complex. To help students to understand and memorise time-related knowledge, visualisation is a common approach. Currently, time intervals are usually visualised as linear segments. But, if a lot of information with a complex distribution or even incomplete data is displayed, this visualisation is quickly getting overcharged and confusing. The Triangular Model (TM) and its extension the Rough Triangular Model (RTM) are constituting alternatives to the limited linear model. Instead of linear segments, TM and RTM display time intervals as points, polygons or lines. The positions of them determine as well the beginning, the end and the vagueness of an interval. Additionally TM and RTM are also displaying temporal relations and topology of time intervals. Given the spread of the intervals points, polygons or lines within the TM, an easy overview about the complex distribution of time intervals can be read as a map which is helpful for students in learning and memorising temporal knowledge. Both TM and RTM deliver a compact visualisation of time-related knowledge where a huge amount of (rough) time intervals can be clearly displayed.