Information visualization

In previous chapters, we learned how to analyze raw image data or text and elicit relevant machine and human-readable information. In this chapter, we will discuss how to visualize information for comprehension by humans (not machines!). As we studied in the first chapter, the human perception system has certain limitations as well as advantages. For example, we struggle to visualize data at higher dimensions, while we are often better at recognizing visual patterns than machines. Information visualization tries to exploit the human perceptual system to help decision-making. The field is vast, comprising product visualization, data analysis, theories of topography and cartography. The field is also rich in history, decorated with many important and lifesaving case studies like Dr John Snow&s;s visualization of the cholera outbreak in London and subsequent analysis of the cause. The chapter will start with a brief historical perspective, followed by a description of basic visual primitives and a prospective visualization pipeline or architecture. As our focus will be on intelligent interaction design, we will describe an interesting user study comparing 2D and 3D visual primitives and developing a cognitive load dashboard. We will conclude the chapter with examples of tactile visualization.