A Primer On Data Visualisation For The Modern World
Of all our five human senses, it is arguably the sense of sight that we most need in our daily lives
. We process the information coming from our environment first by seeing it and then using our other four senses of hearing, touching, tasting and smelling, as necessary.
It is then not surprising that we appreciate efforts to put information into a visual format such as through text, graphics and images. This is especially true for complex and complicated sets of information such as those used in commercial and industrial applications. The more visual the information presented before us, the better that we can understand and use the information to serve our own ends.
This is where data, or information, visualisation comes in.
Definition of the Term:
As its name implies, information visualisation is the study of data's visual representation. In layman's terms, it means that the information is presented in schematic form that includes the attributes and/or variables for the units of data.
According to experts in this field of study, its main goal is to present and communicate relevant information through graphical means so that there is clear, effective and efficient transmission of said information. This is achieved through a delicate balance of form and functionality.
Form and Functionality:
What does it mean? On one hand, data visualisation must stimulate the viewers' attention and then sustain it for the duration of the presentation. Symmetrical figures, vibrant colours and other aesthetic methods are used to achieve great form in information visualisation.
On the other hand, it must be functional in that it serves the main purpose of the activity - to communicate information in an effective and efficient way to a target audience. The target audience must leave the presentation with a greater understanding of the information presented and, thus, use it to greater effect.
When the delicate balance of information visualisation is not achieved, the presentation can become an exercise in futility. If the data visualisation leaned toward form with little functionality, its main purpose of communicating information is defeated. If it leaned toward functionality with little form, the target audience will not be interested from start to finish. Again, the main purpose of the activity is defeated.
Indeed, it takes plenty of practice before such a delicate balance of form and functionality can be achieved. Individuals wanting to be experts in the field are well-advised to take formal classes on the subject. Better yet, a software application is the best way to learn your way in this all-important field of study.
Current Applications:
Where is information visualisation used in the modern world? We can mention the following applications:
A mind map is a diagram of a central idea or a key word from which are linked other ideas, words, tasks and other items. Its main purpose is to visualize ideas that, in turn, will significantly aid in organising, studying and understanding information as well as in solving problems, writing compositions and making decisions. Indeed, a mind map makes life easier in so many ways, if and when it is done in the right manner.
It can be used to display news, connection, resources, services and websites - just about anything that can be represented as a diagram for better transmission of information to the target audience.
It should be noted that, in data visualisation, you must prepare the presentation with a target audience in mind. As such, you may have to rearrange the ideas depending on the audience's needs and wants without losing the main purpose of effective and efficient transmission of information.
by: Lawrence White
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