Information Visualization

The following are some of the points that attract my attention in the article 'Information Visualization' (Gershon, Eick & Card, 1998).

1. Information visualization enables users to reach decisions in a relatively short time.

Reflection: Visual explanations clearly can articulate the message to be conveyed and eliminate confusion. The result is better understanding, better communication, better decision making, and better results (Woodbury & Kaczmarek, 2003).

2. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Reflection: Effective visual displays allow me to get the information in the shortest time in the small space. They can also help overcome the barriers of different languages and cultures in conveying messages.

3. The disadvantages of using images include difficulty in representing information clearly, dependency of visual and information perception on memories, experiences, beliefs, and culture and difficulty in making effective use of color.

Reflection: As mentioned in previous blogging, proper use of color not only catch attention, but also can enhance legibility and readability.

4. Should understand when images are equivalent to words, when they are more appropriate to represent information than words, and when they are not.

Reflection: As I am not good at design, what I can do is to think more and compare and contrast different visual representation. Just as what has been done in the class, although we are not told any criteria for evaluating visual representation, the class has already summarized a few points in Daniel's blog by critical thinking and comparison, e.g. use of contrast color, bulleted and concise text.

5. People's visual literacy should be increased so that people will become more comfortable dealing with visuals and thus will get more information from them.

Reflection: We not only need information literacy, but also visual literacy that helps:
(i) Develop basic design skills, know when to represent information visually better than words, when to use what tools and when not to use.
(ii) Present information, communicate, collaborate and make decision via visual representation.
(iii) Understand guidelines, strategies and skills for information retrieval and critical evaluation of different visual representation.
(iv) Promote mutual understanding through visual representation among different cultures.
(v) Recognize the social and ethical issues relating to visual representation.

References:
Gershon, N., Eick, S.G., & Card, S. (1998). Information Visualization. Interactions, March, 9-15.

Woodbury, H. & Kaczmarek, P. (2003). Why Your Ideas Need Visual Explanation. Retrieved 7 March 2007 from http://www.dynamicdiagrams.com/all_pdfs/dD_visual_explanation.pdf