Project #46: triad balance interactive diagrams & GUI elements

Robert L. Read

Sean Johnson and Francis Stokes

Mark Frazier

https://pubinv.github.io/TriadBalance/TriadBalanceDemo.html

This interactive page presents what may be a new graphical user interface element — the “triad-balance” diagram. The purpose is to use a single click on a triangle to enter three values such as “Mind/Body/Sprit” or “Strength/Endurance/Flexibility” that are presumed to in some sense be “in balance”, or where it is interesting if they are in balance. The Triad Balance widget is fully responsive and stylable in css.

This is an open source demonstration project of Public Invention. This grew out of the project Social Tetrahedrons instigated by Mark Frazier. Although I searched a good bit, I may have missed a previous implementation. If the triad-balance diagram has been implemented previously please inform me at <read.robert@gmail.com>.

Clicking on the triangle gives you a two-dimensional specification. In some cases, that may be all you need. Suppose, however, that you wish to write an algorithm or analyze data for a large number of people or project to determine which is the most out of balance, or which has the highest “mind” value, or which two complement each other the most. The two-dimensional diagram is inconvenient for data analysis of any kind because it does not match the attributes you are trying to measure. Even if you imagine the points in polar coordinates, it is unclear what mix of the three attributes is represented by a point.

Instead, calculating a 3-dimensional “balance vector” representing the proportion of each of the three attributes from the 2-dimensions makes more sense. It is only possible to specify three values from a two-dimensional coordinate by assuming the values are in some sense balance and not completely independent of each other.

Additionally, to be useful, the function that produces the “balance vector” from a point on the triangle must have an inverse. That is, there must exist code which when given a “balance vector” and the shape of a triangle as input, computes the coordinates of the same point you started with. This allows you to, for example, store balance vectors in a database and reconstruct points on the GUI at will. Moving back and forth between the model and the view is essential. Hence, this is our version of a software algorithm that solves this concept and depicts it as a triad balance interactive diagram for any 3 factors the user(s) set initially. Currently, we have provided a few samples of different factors in our online interactive tool for viewers to use to better understand our design.

web designers, artists, programmers (CSS, JavaScript, etc.), mathematicians, and writers.

Working on any aspects of the original project and sharing your additions under our open-source licensing would allow this project to be refined and more accessible to others who seek this source.