Time maps: A tool for visualizing many discrete events across multiple timescales

Visualizing many events over long time periods poses a unique set of challenges. We show how two-dimensional plots displaying the timings between events can reveal both outliers and hidden structure. Adopted from the field of chaotic systems, these "time maps" allow users to identify features that can take place on timescales ranging from milliseconds to months, all within a single image. The exploratory value of time maps is demonstrated using examples from Twitter and online bot behavior.