MIT Wins the Red Balloon Challenge
December 8th, 2009
Archive
Posts Tagged ‘graph traversal’
Copyright → Title 17 U.S. Code w/ Sea Dragon From Microsoft Labs
August 5th, 2009
This is part of our ongoing visualizations of the United States Code. For previous posts visualizing other portions of the code see Title 26 Tax and Title 11 BK. So, we wanted to test out the new Sea Dragon Visualizer from Microsoft Labs and thought Title 17 Copyright would be a fun way to give it a go. In this visual, each of the chapters under Title 17 is separately colored.
To use the visual, start in the center with the large label “Title 17 U.S.C.” and traverse the graph all the way out to any section or subsection. Sea Dragon should allow the user to smoothly zoom in and read any node. We love the interface.
In our view, the Full Screen Visual is the best. You can access it by clicking the Full Size Button on the far right. Also, if for whatever reason you zoom in too far, just use the Home Button to go back to the Full Image. Enjoy but note SeaDragon relies upon Silverlight and Javascript (so you might need to install this).
Visualizing 26 U.S.C., Take 2: Capital Gains & Losses – Full Depth [Repost]
July 19th, 2009
In our original Tax Week post on Title 26, we displayed every subtitle of Title 26, A through K, down to the section level. We did not, however, display the elements of the code below the section level. For example, the visualization stops at §501 and does not distinguish between §501(c)(3) and §501(c)(2). This is a function of the size of Title 26, as the full labeled image is too large to render and distribute over the Internet.
Prior to my acceptance into the Political Science PhD this Spring, I’ve been a Masters student in the Financial Engineering program here at Michigan and run a relatively popular trading blog. Thus, one section of Title 26 that I have unfortunately become quite familiar with is 26 U.S.C. Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter P: Capital Gains and Losses. We’ve chosen to highlight this section because it well represents the complexity of the code – despite only displaying a single subchapter without any Treasury Regs or SEC guidance, there are still over 1,711 citable elements in this visual.
If you look closely you can see each and every piece of this subchapter, including §1221(b)(2)(A)(ii), which defines “hedging transactions” (e.g., swaps) for the purpose of the tax code: “to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, by the taxpayer”
For details on the coloring of the visual, see our previous post visualizing the Bankruptcy Code 11 U.S.C located here.
Visualizing 26 U.S.C ___ : At the “Section Depth”
April 13th, 2009
Title 26 of the United States Code is likely on the mind of many as we move toward April 15th. As a part of a project with Lilian V. Faulhaber (Climenko Fellow from HLS), we have become interested in the architecture of 26 U.S.C. ___.
As we define it, a “section depth” representation for 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) represents a traversal to the level of Sec. 501. While a “full depth” representation would include a mapping beyond Sec. 501 to its (c) and (3) subcomponents. In our previous post highlighting 11 U.S.C. __ (the Bankruptcy Code), we presented a traversable “full depth” representation for its structure.
Considering all 50 titles of the United States Code, 26 U.S.C. __ is among the largest of the titles in its architectural size and depth. In fact, given its size, it is not possible for us to render for public consumption, a labeled, “full depth” and zoomable representation for all of 26 U.S.C. ___.
Above we provide a “section depth” representation for 26 U.S.C __ where the terminal nodes are sections such Sec. 1031. You will notice that this section depth representation is roughly the size of the full depth representation we provide for 11 U.S.C. ___. We have colored in Green the primary Income Tax Sections under 26. The documentation is similar to that for 11 U.S.C. ___ thus please refer to this post for additional information. However, for traversal purposes, it is important to remember to start in the middle at the “26 U.S.C.” and follow the branch of the graph out to a leaf node.
We believe the comparative consideration of the architecture for these titles offers a rough first cut on questions of code magnitude and complexity. Although it is a first order approximation and we do believe layering in the relevant administrative regulations and jurisprudence to these sections would represent an improvement on the question, it still bears asking whether it would drastically alter the macro state of affairs. That is an empirical question and only time will tell.
With Bankruptcy on Our Minds: The Structure of Title 11 U.S.C.
April 1st, 2009
CLICK ON IT AND YOU CAN ZOOM IN and READ EVERY LABEL!
MOTIVATION:
We have become interesting in visualizing the structure of the law including its components and subcomponents. In reduced form, statutes, regulations and certain other units of the law can be characterized in graph theoretical terms. While we do not make deep inroads on the content of this above graph, we do generate a tree traversable visualization for its structure.
Much of my training in law school (particularly in the so called “code-based” classes) was focused upon developing mental models for the structure and content of graphs such as the one displayed above. In my case, I believe the usage of such a visualization early in a code-based course would have been beneficial. Thus, we offer this traversable visualization to the world for not only its research value but also for pedagogical purposes.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Start in the MIDDLE at the “11 U.S.C.__ ” Label and traverse out.
BREAKDOWN OF THE VISUAL:
GREEN NODE LABELS = for SECTIONS {In the Example below, 11 U.S.C. § 101}
YELLOW ARCS — Chapter 7 of Title 11 = LIQUIDATION
BLUE ARCS – Chapter 11 of Title 11 = REORGANIZATION (aka “Filing Chapter 11“)
RED ARCS and GREY ARCS — Balance of the Chapters under Title 11
Red Arcs are for lines which lead to terminal nodes
Grey Arcs are for lines which do not immediately lead to terminal nodes
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Please feel free to PLAY AROUND and TEST IT OUT!
This is an early production version so please provide us with any feedback and/or suggestions.
