What is Data Visualization?

Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, University of British Columbia

22 Mar 201102:41

Summary

TLDRData visualization is a powerful tool at the crossroads of communication, information science, and design, offering intuitive insights into complex data sets. It's recognized as a vital 21st-century skill, with simple forms like graphs and pie charts evolving alongside advanced computer-assisted text analysis. The internet has popularized infographics, while data journalism heavily relies on visualization for impactful reporting. Tools like Many Eyes, Gapminder, and Highcharts facilitate creating interactive and dynamic visual representations, making data exploration accessible to a wide audience.

Takeaways

📊 Data visualization is the graphical representation of information, combining communication, information science, and design to provide insights into complex data sets.
🌐 Its main advantage is not aesthetic appeal but the ability to communicate key aspects of data in an intuitive and meaningful way.
🔍 Data visualization has been recognized as a crucial 21st-century research skill, essential for understanding and interpreting large data sets.
📈 Traditional forms of data visualization, such as graphs, pie charts, and maps, have been used for a long time to simplify data interpretation.
💻 Modern computer technology has advanced data visualization, allowing for the analysis of text to produce graphical representations like word diagrams.
📊 Infographics have become a popular tool in internet media, helping to convey complex information in a digestible format.
🌐 Data journalism heavily relies on data visualization tools to report news and communicate global trends effectively.
🛠️ There are various tools available for creating data visualizations, including spreadsheets and illustration applications, making it accessible to many.
🔍 'Many Eyes' is a free online data visualization tool by IBM that offers a range of visualization types for different data analysis needs.
🌍 'Gapminder' is a service that collects and visualizes global data trends over time, offering a unique perspective on population and economic changes.
📈 'Hi Charts' is an online service for creating interactive JavaScript charts, useful for displaying individual data points interactively.
📚 For further development of presentation and research skills, resources like the Learning Commons study toolkits and online workshops are available.

Q & A

What is data visualization?
-Data visualization is the graphical representation of information and data, which lies at the intersection of communication, information science, and design.
What is the main advantage of data visualization?
-The main advantage of data visualization is that it provides insight into complex data sets by communicating their key aspects in more intuitive and meaningful ways.
Why is data visualization considered a key 21st-century research skill?
-Data visualization is considered a key 21st-century research skill because it enables the analysis and interpretation of large and complex data sets, making it easier to understand and communicate findings.
What are some simple forms of data visualization that have been around for a long time?
-Simple forms of data visualization include graphs, pie charts, and maps.
How has computer technology impacted data visualization?
-Computer technology has enabled the analysis of text to produce graphical representations of prominent concepts, such as word diagrams.
What is the role of information graphics or infographics in today's media?
-Information graphics or infographics have become a mainstream tool of internet media, helping to convey complex information in a visually appealing and easily digestible format.
How does data journalism rely on data visualization tools?
-Data journalism relies on data visualization tools as the prime basis of reporting news about the world, making data accessible and understandable to the general public.
What are some online tools that can help get started with data visualization?
-Many Eyes and Gapminder are examples of online tools that can help users get started with data visualization, offering various types of visualizations and the ability to work with existing or uploaded data.
What is Many Eyes and what does it offer to users?
-Many Eyes is a free online data visualization tool created by IBM, allowing users to choose from existing data sets or upload their own data and select from various visualization types.
What is Gapminder and how does it innovate in data visualization?
-Gapminder is a free online service that collects data and allows users to select world trends and compare them using a bubble chart. Its main innovation is displaying data changes over time, enabling the visualization of trends such as population growth.
What is Highcharts and how can it be used for data visualization?
-Highcharts is an online data visualization service that is free for non-commercial use. It produces interactive JavaScript charts that can display individual data points when hovered over, offering a dynamic way to explore data.
Where can one find more ideas on presentation and research skills related to data visualization?
-For more ideas on presentation and research skills related to data visualization, one can visit the Learning Commons study toolkits or attend one of their online workshops.

Outlines

00:00

📊 Data Visualization: A Key 21st Century Skill

Data visualization is presented as a critical 21st-century research skill, enabling the graphical representation of complex information for better understanding. It is situated at the crossroads of communication, information science, and design. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of data visualization in making data intuitive and meaningful, not just aesthetically pleasing. It also touches upon the historical context of simple data visualization forms like graphs and pie charts, and how modern computer technology has advanced the field to include text analysis and graphical representations like word diagrams. The role of data visualization in internet media, data journalism, and the availability of tools for creating visualizations, such as 'Many Eyes' and 'Gapminder,' are highlighted. The paragraph concludes with a mention of 'Highcharts,' an interactive JavaScript chart service, and directs readers to additional resources for presentation and research skills.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Data Visualization

Data visualization refers to the graphical representation of information and data. It is a key concept in the video as it is the central theme around which the entire discussion revolves. The script explains that data visualization is not just about making data aesthetically pleasing but also about providing insights into complex datasets. Examples from the script include the use of graphs, pie charts, and word diagrams as forms of data visualization.

💡Communication

Communication is one of the fields intersecting with data visualization, as it is crucial for effectively conveying information. In the context of the video, communication is essential for making data visualizations understandable and impactful. The script mentions that data visualization lies at the intersection of communication, information science, and design, emphasizing its role in effectively sharing complex data insights.

💡Information Science

Information science is the study of data and its organization, retrieval, and dissemination. It is a foundational field for data visualization, as it provides the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to handle and represent data effectively. The script positions data visualization at the intersection of information science, indicating its reliance on principles of data management and information structuring.

💡Design

Design is the process of creating visual elements and layouts that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. In the context of the video, design is integral to data visualization as it helps in creating graphical representations that are not only informative but also engaging. The script mentions the intersection of design with data visualization, highlighting the importance of visual appeal in making data more accessible.

💡Insight

Insight in the video refers to the understanding or knowledge gained from data visualization. It is the ability to see patterns, trends, or relationships within complex data sets that might not be immediately obvious. The script emphasizes that the main advantage of data visualization is providing insight, which is crucial for making informed decisions based on data.

💡21st Century Research Skill

The term '21st Century Research Skill' in the script refers to the set of competencies that are essential for success in the modern world, with data visualization being identified as one of them. This indicates the importance of being able to interpret and present data in a way that is both meaningful and understandable, which is a valuable skill in today's data-driven society.

💡Graphs

Graphs are a simple form of data visualization used to represent data in a pictorial format. They are mentioned in the script as one of the traditional forms of data visualization that have been around for a long time. Graphs help in comparing data points and showing relationships or trends, making them a fundamental tool in data analysis.

💡Pie Charts

Pie charts are another form of data visualization that is used to represent data in a circular statistical graphic, which is divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportion. The script mentions pie charts as an example of simple data visualization, which is effective for showing parts of a whole.

💡Maps

Maps, in the context of the video, are used as a form of data visualization to represent geographical data or spatial relationships. They are mentioned as one of the long-standing forms of data visualization, which can be used to communicate complex geographical information in an intuitive way.

💡Word Diagrams

Word diagrams, as mentioned in the script, are a form of data visualization that uses words and their relationships to represent data. They are particularly useful for analyzing text and can help in identifying prominent concepts or themes within a body of text.

💡Information Graphics

Information graphics, or infographics, are visual representations of information and data designed to be easily understood at a glance. The script mentions infographics as a mainstream tool of internet media, highlighting their role in making complex information more accessible and engaging.

💡Data Journalism

Data journalism is the process of using data to inform news stories, often relying on data visualization tools to present findings. The script discusses how data journalism relies on data visualization as the prime basis of reporting news, emphasizing the importance of visual data representation in modern journalism.

💡Many Eyes

Many Eyes is a free online data visualization tool created by IBM, as mentioned in the script. It allows users to choose from existing data sets or upload their own, and select from various visualization types. The tool is an example of how technology has made data visualization more accessible to a wider audience.

💡Gapminder

Gapminder is a free online service that collects and visualizes data over time, as described in the script. It allows users to select world trends and compare them using a bubble chart, with its main innovation being the display of data changes over time, making it a powerful tool for visualizing trends and patterns.

💡Highcharts

Highcharts is an online data visualization service mentioned in the script, which is free for non-commercial use. It produces interactive JavaScript charts that display individual data points when hovered over, providing a dynamic way to explore and present data.

Highlights

Data visualization is the graphical representation of information and data.

It lies at the intersection of communication, information science, and design.

The main advantage of data visualization is providing insight into complex data sets.

Data visualization communicates key aspects of data sets in intuitive and meaningful ways.

It has been identified as a key 21st-century research skill.

Simple forms of data visualization, like graphs and pie charts, have been around for a long time.

Computer technology has enabled analysis of text to produce graphical representations, like word diagrams.

Information graphics or infographics have become a mainstream tool of internet media.

Data journalism relies on data visualization tools as the prime basis of reporting news.

Anyone with a spreadsheet and an illustrator application can make a data visualization.

There are online tools that can help get you started with data visualization.

Many Eyes is a free online data visualization tool created by IBM.

Many Eyes allows users to choose from existing data sets or upload their own data.

Gapminder is a free online service that collects data and allows users to select world trends.

Gapminder's main innovation is displaying data changes over time with bubble charts.

Gapminder also offers a free desktop application for use during presentations.

Highcharts is an online data visualization service free for non-commercial use.

Highcharts produces interactive JavaScript charts that display individual data points.

For more ideas on presentation and research skills, visit the Learning Commons study toolkits or attend online workshops.