This document discusses micro and macro readings, which involve visualizing data at multiple levels within a single image. Micro readings show detailed low-level data, while macro readings provide a high-level overview. The document provides many examples of how micro and macro readings can be used, such as showing both local detail and regional breakdown on maps, or displaying individual names and overall numbers of casualties. Both the advantages and challenges of micro and macro readings are examined.

1. 2013
Game Design 2
Lecture 9: Micro / Macro Readings
http://gcugd2.com
david.farrell@gcu.ac.uk

2. Micro / Macro Readings
‘A method for presenting large quantities of data at high
densities in a way that a broad overview of the data is
given and yet an immense amount of detail is provided.’
Ruddle 2002

3. Definition
• Visualising data at two levels in one image
• Micro Data (low level detail)
• Macro Data (high level detail)
• User / Viewer can get a rough idea at a
glance but also see detailed information

5. Layering & Separation?
• Layering & Separation == multiple types of
information + how to separate
• Micro & Macro == multiple scales of
information

6. Spatial
• Maps can show geographical breakdown of
a location as well as local detail
• Geometry of land mass as well as regional
breakdown.

7. §

9. 4th Dimension
• More subtle macro readings can look into
time.

11. • The circular layout of the centre of Senlis
shows its history as a Gallo-Roman
fortification.

14. • Glasgow’s industrial history, built around
the River Clyde is apparent by the density
on its shore.
• Stirling borders a river but the lack of focus
shows its different history.

15. Symbolic Use
• Micro / Macro design
is not always geographic.
• This poster shows that
from the work of many
hands, one great plan
will be fulfilled.

16. Character Design
• In games, it is often possible to read many
scales of information from looking at a
character:
• character class, team, attack, defence,
health etc.

18. Combining M/M & L&S
• The London Air Quality Network website
has to provide a very dense set of data in
an intuitive interface.
• They layer user interface elements over a
rich map which shows different types of
data as well as different scales of data.
• http://bit.ly/londonair

21. ddddddddddfsdfadf
• dd

22. Meaning through Scale
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial achieves its
visual and emotional strength through
micro / macro design.
(Tufte, p43)

24. • 58,000 dead soldiers
• scale can be seen at a
distance
• Individual names up close
• Ordered by date of
death

25. Relative Data
• http://bit.ly/billiondollargram
• Shows spend / cost in billions
from US budget and events
• Can see immediately highest
spent areas
• Can also see actual numbers

28. Stem and Leaf
• Like a bar chart / histogram but uses the
space that would normally be used by solid
blocks of colour.

29. 218 Mountains
•d

30. • Glance tells distribution
• Analysis provides more
• Scale given
• Necessary to round

31. 292 Trains

32. 292 Trains (badly)

33. • 777 more characters
• hard to see how frequently trains leave at a
given hour
• rush hour?
• 11pm trains?

34. Stem & Leaf Improve?
• How can you modify the stem & leaf plot
to show more information (such as
platform number)?

35. Back to Back S&L

36. Missile or Toothbrush?
• 7000 objects > 10 cm in diameter in space
• rocket engines, bin bags, frozen sewage,
shrapnel from tests, 1 wrench and 1
toothbrush
• Only 5% are functional satellites
• Necessary to track for safety of launches

39. • Note the ring on the second image.
• this is the geostationary orbit used by
satellites
• The scale of the problem can be seen, not
only in overall but also in terms of orbit
height and relative density of areas.

40. Why Micro & Macro?
• We thrive in information rich contexts
• Visually rich displays are not only
appropriate to convey information but are
often the optimal way to do so.

41. • If information is spread over multiple
screens, the user needs to keep that
information in memory
• If information is condensed into one
screen / graphic, it only requires
understanding.

42. • Micro / Macro designs enforce local and
global comparisons but do so without the
need to context switch.
• Power is given to the user to decide what
level of detail is required.

43. Downsides of M/M
• creating good Micro / Macro design is hard.
• it is easier to have one display for each
scale of data.
• it may be necessary to gather or process
more data (e.g. stem plot vs bar chart)
• it may be difficult to blend the scales
together.

44. Too complicated?
• Don’t forget that the data is never the
problem.
‘Clutter and confusion are failures of
design, not attributes of information‘
(Tufte)