The WE1S Topic Model Observatory (TMO) is a suite of interactive visualization interfaces for exploring topic models. If a topic model is like a galaxy of stars that can be grouped in many different ways at multiple scales (as it were: “all main sequence stars,” “all G-type stars in the main sequence,” etc.), then the WE1S TMO is like a set of optical and radio telescopes providing varying views of the galaxy. Some of the visualization interfaces in the TMO are instruments uniquely attuned to sensing certain kinds of phenomena or depicting them from a particular angle of view; others are multiple-view instruments. The WE1S Topic Model Interpretation Protocol directs users to utilize different combinations of the visualization interfaces in the TMO as they explore topic models to answer research questions.

See Topic Model Observatory Guide (TMO Guide) for descriptions and basic how-to instructions for the visualization interfaces.