Information Visualization

Information Visualization Scott Klemmer 03 November 2005

Definition [www.oed.com] The action or fact of visualizing; the power or process of forming a mental picture or vision of something not actually present to the sight; a picture thus formed. Information Visualization

Functions of Visualizations • Answer a question • “One image = One diagnosis” • Make decisions • Support analysis and reasoning • To explore and discover; encourage creativity • Look at things in a new way • “The purpose of computing is insight, • not numbers” [R. Hamming] • Communicate information to others • Make a point • Tell a story • Inspire Information Visualization

Functions of Visualizations • 1. Recording information • e.g. table of logarithms, blueprints and • telescope images • 2. Understanding information • Computer -> Display -> Person • w/ feedback and interaction • 3. Presenting information • Display -> People • Share, collaborate, revise, … Information Visualization

Challenger Disaster 1 of 13 pages of material faxed to NASA by Morton Thiokol Information Visualization

Challenger Disaster E. Tufte, pp. 46-47 , Visual Explanations Information Visualization

Challenger Disaster Redrawn by E. Tufte, p. 49 , Visual Explanations Information Visualization

Amplifies Cognition/Perception • Expand working memory • Reduce search time • Pattern detection and recognition • Perceptual inference • Perceptual monitoring and controlling attention • Interaction is important for cognition • Card, Mackinlay, Shneiderman • Readings in Information Visualization Information Visualization

Route Maps Overlaid Route Sketched Route • Find cognitive and perceptual principles • Optimize the visualization according to these principles Agrawala and Stolte, Rendering Effective Route Maps, SIGGRAPH 2001 Information Visualization

5. Interaction Gibson’s Experiment Goal: Match 2 shapes Active touch: 96% Passive (rotation) 72% Passive (imprint) 49% From J. J. Gibson (1966) The Senses Considered as a Perceptual System, p. 124 Thanks to David Kirsh for this example. Information Visualization

Information Visualization

Information-Seeking Mantra • Overview first, • then zoom and filter, • details on demand B. Schneiderman, The eyes have it: A task by data type taxonomy for information visualization, 1996 Information Visualization

Interaction Spectrum Exploration VR Data Explorer Encyclopedia Interactive 3D model Navigation map Reactivity Graph Presentation Games Text slide Slide by F. Guimbretiere Information Visualization

Quotes: Bringhurst & Tufte “Some space must be narrow so that other space may be wide, and some space must be emptied so that other space may be filled.” – Robert Bringhurst The Elements of Typographic Style “Information consists of differences that make a difference.” – Edward TufteEnvisioning Information Information Visualization

Small Multiples • Economy of line • Many similarities enable us to notice differences IMAGE REMOVED Information Visualization

S M A L L M U L T I P L E S International Women’s Day Echeverria, Heriberto 1971March 8 - International Women’s Day Diaz, Estela 1974 March 8 - International Women’s Day Cuban Poster Art Gallery, http:///www.sims.berkeley.edu/~lcush/GenCat.html/ Information Visualization

S M A L L M U L T I P L E S Reid Miles, Blue Note Cover Information Visualization

Design Galleries Information Visualization

London Underground Information Visualization

Palm’s Design Economy Information Visualization

Information Visualization