Information visualization (infovis) can help make sense of large amounts of data by using interactive visual representations to amplify cognition. While infovis was once an academic field, it is now widely used in commercial tools and by Google. However, designing effective infovis is challenging as simply making data graphical does not ensure it is useful. Proper evaluation of infovis experiences and performance is also difficult as insight is hard to measure and the experience is subjective.

1. Information Visuali z ation - not just eye candy 29 th May 2010 | UXCampEurope Jan Srutek |@JanSru

2. Information Overload ? http://www.flickr.com/photos/artemuestra/2941677924/

3. Data vs. Information Data Information http://www.flickr.com/photos/glasslife/179975975/ - Objective facts about the world - Relevant facts with meaning - Product of human mind

4. Data overload Google processing daily 2008: 20 PB of data 2009: 25 PB of data http://www.flickr.com/photos/glasslife/179975975/

5. What the heck is … Information Visualization (InfoVis) - computer-supported, - interactive, - visual representations, - of abstract data … to amplify cognition

6. This is an InfoVis tool From: www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/virtualmaps.asp

7. This is NOT InfoVis tool http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdsdigital/4514262548/

8. Communicating visually Table

9. Communicating visually

10. Amplifying cognition Images are processed in parallel

11. Pre-attentive processing 7 2 6 7 7 0 0 9 7 5 7 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 9 2 0 8 8 0 2 9 4 4 7 3 9 4 6 0 1 6 9 2 7 6 1 5 5 6 7 8 2 0 7 0 3 4 5 3 2 1 4 3 5 3 6 1 4 2 9 8 3 1 1 1 8 0 7 9 6 1 5 4 1 8 6 8 6 0

12. Pre-attentive processing 7 2 6 7 7 0 0 9 7 5 7 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 9 2 0 8 8 0 2 9 4 4 7 3 9 4 6 0 1 6 9 2 7 6 1 5 5 6 7 8 2 0 7 0 3 4 5 3 2 1 4 3 5 3 6 1 4 2 9 8 3 1 1 1 8 0 7 9 6 1 5 4 1 8 6 8 6 0

13. InfoVis in the past http://www.flickr.com/photos/luthercollegearchives/1485788252/ Domain of academic research InfoVis tools created in labs

14. Commercial implementations From: www.smartmoney.com/map-of-the-market

15. Commercial implementations From: spotfire.tibco.com

16. InfoVis today From: www.visualcomplexity.com

17. Google Charting API From: code.google.com/intl/cs/apis/charttools/index.html

18. Chartjunk From: www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog

19. Chartjunk http://www.flickr.com/photos/philgyford/4505748943/

20. What about the users ? From: www.happywebbies.com

21. InfoVis interaction experience Interface manipulation activities Sense-making activities

22. InfoVis interaction experience Interface manipulation activities Sense-making activities Insight, positive experience [in uninterrupted harmony]

23. Evaluating InfoVis Challenge one: What are the evaluation criteria ?

24. Evaluating InfoVis Challenge one: What are the evaluation criteria ? Insight? But how to measure it?

25. Evaluating InfoVis Challenge two: What evaluation methods to use?

26. Evaluating InfoVis Challenge three: Subjectivity of the InfoVis experience

27. Summary Visual communication is powerful - More InfoVis tools in future InfoVis designs need validating “ just because it’s graphical, doesn’t mean it’s useful” Evaluating InfoVis experience is problematic - We need specific evaluation methods and performance criteria

28. Learn more Card, S. K., Mackinlay, J. D., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Readings in Information Visualization. Morgan Kaufmann Checkland, P., & Holwell, S. (1998). Information, Systems, and Information Systems. John Wiley and Sons Faisal, S. (2008). From tool to instrument: An experiential analysis of interacting with Information Visualization. (PhD Thesis at University College London Interaction Centre, 2008) Few, S. (2006). Information Dashboard Design. O'Reilly Spence, R. (2007). Information Visualization : Design for Interaction (2 nd ed.) . Prentice Hall Tufte, E. R. (1995). Envisioning information. Graphics Press Ware, C. (2004). Information Visualization: Perception for Design. Morgan Kaufmann

29. Thank you Questions ? Twitter me! @JanSru