1. A method for configuring the presentation of a plurality of presentation elements in a visual representation on a user interface, the plurality of presentation elements having both temporal and spatial parameters, the method comprising the steps of: defining a time bar with a time scale having time indicators as subdivisions representing a unit of measure of the time scale and having a first global temporal limit and a second temporal global limit of the time scale for defining a total temporal domain of the plurality of presentation elements; defining a focus range of the time bar such that the focus range has a first local temporal limit and a second local temporal limit wherein the first local temporal limit is greater than or equal to the first global temporal limit and the second local temporal limit is less than or equal to the second global temporal limit, the focus range being a subset of the total temporal domain; defining a focus bar having a focus time scale having focus time indicators as subdivisions representing a unit of measure of the focus time scale and the focus bar being in a dynamically coupled relationship with the time bar by having the first and second local temporal limits of the time bar as the extents of the focus time scale, wherein the focus time scale is an expansion of the time scale by a unit distance on the user interface between the focus time indicators being greater than a unit distance on the user interface between the time indicators; displaying a subset of presentation elements selected from the plurality of presentation elements based on the respective temporal parameter of each of the subset of presentation elements being within the first and second local temporal limits; manipulating the focus range by displacement along the time bar between the first and second global limits to result in updating of the first and second local limits being the extents of the focus time scale, wherein the focus range remains constant during the displacement; wherein during the displacement the display of the subset of presentation elements is animated over time and geography by updating from the plurality of presentation elements based on the respective temporal parameter of each of the updated subset of presentation elements is within the updated first and second local temporal limits.