Data visualization uses visual representations of data to help people understand patterns and insights more easily than textual representations. The amount of data generated daily is growing exponentially, making data visualization techniques essential. Effective data visualization adheres to principles of visual perception and Gestalt theory, represents quantitative information accurately without distortion, and chooses visual representations well-suited to the data and the intended audience.

1. The representation and presentation of data that
exploits our visual perception abilities in order to
amplify cognition.
Big Data is a broad term for large and complex
data sets for which traditional data processing tools
are not adequate. Big data is different from Internet,
although internet makes it easy to collect and share
the data.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_data
Shweta Gupte
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center (ORNL DAAC, http://daac.ornl.gov)
What is Data Visualization?
90% of all the data in the world has been
generated over the last two years, 2.5 Billion GB of
new data is generated everyday.
1 TRILLION connected objects and
devices on the planet generated data in 2015.
source: Sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522085217.htm
Why we care ?
Value of Data Visualization
Choose the right chart type
• Proximity
• Similarity
• Enclosure and Continuity
• Closure
Source:http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/03/28/design-principles-
visual-perception-and-the-principles-of-gestalt/
Gestalt’s Principles of Perception
S
Good Data Visualization
Bad Data Visualization
• Display choices that distort the reality i.e pie
charts, 3D charts
• Variety for the sake of variety
• Too much information
• Poorly designed display choices that used noisy
patterns, colors and styles
• Encoding inaccurately quantitative data
• Using counts versus percentages when
comparing periods with different totals
• Inconsistent or reversed scales
Common Data Visualization Issues
Tools to Build Data Visualizations
Copyright 2006 A.Abela – a.v.abela@gmail.com
source:Dr.Andrew Abela http://www.labnol.org/software/find-right-chart-type-for-your-data/6523/.
Source:
http://www.colbertsuperpac.com/wordclouds/index.
php
Source: http://www.microsiervos.com/archivo/azar/loto-estrella.html
1.Google Charts
2. Modest Maps (mapping tool)
3. Visual.ly
4. Tableau
5. d3.js and more….
Source:http://www.perceptualedge.com/exam
ple3.php
Visual access to huge
amounts of data in easily
digestible visuals.
Well designed graphics
are simplest and most
powerful.
Two basic types
•Exploration- find a story
the data is telling you
•Explanation-tell a story
to an audience
Represents large
quantities of data
coherently
Helps the user to discern
relationships in the data
Does not distort what the
data has to say
Takes into account your
audience’s expectations