SIMILE Timeline

SIMILE Timeline from MIT promises to be the Google Earth of dates and times. A highly flexible time line with scales ranging from milliseconds to millenia you can plot whatever time series you want in one or more time bands.

[If you are unable to view AJAX type applications or see visual information (e.g. screen reader users) then here is the timeline data as a list in a simple web page. ]

This simple demonstration brings in BBC One programme data from the BBC TV API on BBC Backstage and plots the next 7 days programmes. The top band provides a detail view, the lower band a summary view. Click and drag the timelines to the left and right to view the schedule. Click on an item to read the programme synopsis.

A simple development would be to add extra bands for each channel, or to let you select which channel you want. More fun would be to start bringing in other time series, like a vCal or xCal feed from Outlook, or the times of sports matches. With historic data you could do even more, plotting temperature and wind data, seismic reports, product sales, the ideas are limitless.

We'll work up some more ideas and post them here in due course. In the meantime if you have a good application for Timeline you'd like to explore then let us know.

Supported by BBC Backstage