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Defined the goals of information visualization Identified methods of enhancing understanding

and amplifying cognition:◦ Increase available brain resources (parallel vs. serial

processing methods); ◦ Reduce search time and enhance recognition of patterns

(using pre-attentive processing); ◦ Provide focus/emphasis.

Reviewed heuristics from Tufte and Nielsen Discussed issues in creating multivariate

visualizations

Previously in class about information visualization...

Understand quantitative relationships◦ Nominal vs. ordinal vs. interval vs. hierarchical

relationships◦ Ranking vs. ratio vs. correlation◦ Measures of average and distribution

Concepts of tables and graphs◦ Tables are used to see individual values; graphs are

used to reveal relationships among multiple values◦ Tables and graphs should be sorted to highlight key

message.◦ Relative use of pie charts, bar charts, line charts,

sparkline, small multiples, box plot...◦ Showing relationships vs. deviation vs. correlation vs.

ranking vs. time-series vs. part-to-whole vs. distribution ◦ Importance of sorting tables and graphs.

Previously in the readings...

Visual display Key Information

◦ Most important information to monitor one or more objectives

◦ Usually related directly to key performance indicators

◦ Consolidated Fits on one screen (no scrolling!) Designed to be monitored at a glance

Dashboards (Stephen Few’s definition)

http://www.infosol.com/business%20intelligence/library-dashboards.aspx

http://www.dundas.com/dashboard/online-examples/

http://www.tableausoftware.com/ http://

www.exceluser.com/dash/samples.htm http://dashboardsbyexample.com/ http://www.dashboardzone.com/

Dashboard examples galore!

http://www.it-performs.com/services/dashboard-centre/dashboard-videos

http://www.dminebi.com/dmine-dashboard-videos/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9GMCS-WjyI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AS9TIK1QFk&feature=related

Dashboard videos abound!

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Derived from the work on executive information systems (late 1980’s through 1990’s).

Further roots in the work on the “balanced scorecard” concept to broaden perspective from financials alone.

Uses the dashboard metaphor to develop fast recognition and appeal.

Dashboards are not new...

Always need to know the goal

Strategic Analytical OperationalAudience Executives,

managersManagers, analysts Executives,

managers, do-ersUse High-level

performance;Relationships

Detailed understanding of KPI factors

Run daily, weekly, monthly operations

Design Simple displays;Provide context; Include forecasts

Rich comparisons; more context, multivariate

Maintain awareness through dynamic, simple displays

Issues andCautions

Beware too much information;Avoid subtle gradations;Link to KPI;Don’t bother with real-time data

Provide drill-down;Enable exploration; Show movement; Allow examination of causes;Probably doesn’t require real-time data

Specific information available; provide drill-down;Exceptions are critical; requires real-time data; use hovering

Typical dashboard dataCategory

Measures

Sales BillingsBookings# of OrdersOrder Amounts

Category MeasuresMarketing Market share

Ad campaign $Cust. Demographics

Category

Measures

IT Network downtimeSystem usageFixed app defects

Category MeasuresTech Support

# of support callsResolved casesCustomer satisfactionCall duration

Category

Measures

Finance RevenuesExpensesProfits

Category

Measures

Human Resources

Employee satisfactionEmployee turnoverCount of open positionsCount of late reviews

Overall design◦ Exceeding boundaries of a single screen.◦ Limiting design to the dashboard metaphor.◦ Choosing ineffective or inappropriate visualization methods.◦ Poor flow/arrangement of presentation of data.

Content◦ Choosing a deficient, inappropriate or ineffective measure.◦ Supplying inadequate context for the data.◦ Displaying excessive detail or precision.

Detailed design (look and feel)◦ Misusing or overusing color; meaningless variety of color

and shape.◦ Poor highlighting of important data.◦ Cluttering the display with useless decoration.

Common mistakes

Delivers information that is:◦ Exceptionally well-organized.◦ Condensed.◦ Provides summaries and exceptions.◦ Specific to the requirements of the audience.◦ Presented on the media of choice for the

audience (computer, phone, tablet, etc.)◦ Flexible.◦ Able to be pursued in more detail beyond the

dashboard.

Well-designed dashboard

Understand and make best use of screen real estate

Maximize the data-ink /total-ink ratio (or data pixels/total pixels ratio...)

Eliminate all unnecessary non-data pixels De-emphasize all non-data pixels and make

them slip into the background of the overall design

Highlight the most important data pixels

Key Goals (Tufte, 1980’s, Few, 2010’s)

Emphasized Neither emphasized or de-

emphasized

Neither emphasized or de-emphasized De-emphasized

Emphasized

Maximize data pixels/total pixels ratio

Salesperson Jan Feb MarBill Bassett 2,834 4,340 4,885Jenny Martin 5,890 7,439 6,493Luis Marquez 3,899 6,889 8,593Bob Taylor 1,250 3,445 5,443

Salesperson Jan Feb MarBill Bassett 2,834 4,340 4,885Jenny Martin 5,890 7,439 6,493Luis Marquez 3,899 6,889 8,593Bob Taylor 1,250 3,445 5,443

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Grid lines in graphs that don’t need precision

Backgrounds that don’t provide delineation of sections on the dashboard

3-D that doesn’t provide additional variables or layers of analysis

Drawings that are not part of the data – including detailed logos

Colors that don’t highlight or emphasize data

Meters and gauges that don’t incorporate preattention

Junk pixels

Arrange the overall design to reflect how the intended audience “thinks” about the decisions to be made.

Group related data. Arrange the data in a meaningful order (low

to high; high to low) Use bright colors sparingly and judiciously. Avoid use of a colored background. White space is an effective delimiter. Use fonts with good legibility and readability.

Good design