Data Visualization

We have seen that the graph type that is the most useful cannot be completely derived from the characteristics of the data. The message of the graphical presentation should first be identified in order to make sure that the graph matches the goal of the user. As discovered earlier the goal of the user depends on the phase in the decision process and the state of the data. Furthermore, each graphical technique is linked to the effectiveness of the perception of an observer (Mackinlay, 1986).

Criteria of expressiveness of the data

Variations that should be used for designing expressive graphs and satisfying the users information needs, should at least consider the following data characteristics (Roth and Mattis, 1998b):

Mapping data objects to interaction objects

Data is the basic ingredient of information. In the previous blogs, I outlined those parts of the steering model that are subject to variation. Those information-shaped elements are extracted from various internal and external data sources. The internal structure (meta data model) of the data source can give a large amount of extra information that is useful in designing effective interfaces in particular in rendering graphs.