cs5984: Information Visualization

Chris North

GTA: Purvi SaraiyaInfovis meister: Nathan

What is Information Visualization?

• The use of computer-supported, interactive, visual representations of abstract data to amplify cognition

The Big Problem

Data

Human

How?

Data Transfer

Web,books, papers, game scores, Scientific data,Biotech,ShoppingPeopleStock/financeNews

Vision: 100 MB/sEars: <100 b/sTelepathyHaptic/tactileSmelltaste

Human Vision

• Highest bandwidth sense• Fast, parallel• Pattern recognition• Pre-attentive• Extends memory and cognitive capacity

• (Multiplication test)

• People think visually

Impressive. Lets use it!

• Which state has highest Income?• Relationship between Income and Education?• Outliers?

Per Capita Income

Col

lege

Deg

ree

%

• What if you could only see 1 state’s data at a time? (e.g. Census Bureau’s website)

• What if I read the data to you?

Find the green square?

History: Static Graphics

Interactive Graphics

• Homefinder

More than just “data transfer”

• Support the ability to glean higher level knowledge from the data

• Learn = data knowledge

Insight!

What’s the Big Deal?

Presentation is everything!

Optimization: My Philosophy

Visualization = the best of bothImpressive computation + impressive cognition

Computer•Serial•Symbolic•Static•Deterministic•Exact •Binary, 0/1•Computation•Programmed •Follow instructions•Amoral

Human•Parallel •Visual •Dynamic •Non-deterministic •Fuzzy•Gestalt, whole, patterns •Understanding •Free will•Creative •Moral

You will learn how to:

• Design visual, interactive representations• Critique existing designs• Development visualization software• Empirically evaluate designs

An HCI focus• A visualization = a user interface for data

*

Related Courses

• Scientific Visualization (ESM4714)• Computer Graphics (4204, 6xxx)• Usability Engineering (5714)• Research Methods! (5014)

• Model & Theories of HCI (5724)• User Interface Software (5984)• Info Storage & Retrieval (5604)• Databases (5614)

Course Mechanics

• Grading:• 10% Paper presentation & discussion• 30% Homeworks• 60% Project

• Format:• Research class• Read research papers• Discussion• Contribute to research, Project!

• dude.cs.vt.edu

Research Class

• Creativity• No “right” answer• Reasoning/argument is more important• Self motivation• Open ended• Contribute to the state-of-the-art• Jump start for thesis research

Research =

Learning the state-of-the-art +Creativity (Design) +

Science (Measurement,Modeling) +Dissemination

= project

HW #1

• Due sept 6, thurs• Find some data• 104c mcbryde • Spotfire, tablelens(eureka), parallel coordinates

(xmdvtool), star coordinates (stardeck).• Pick 2• What you learned about the data? 1 pg• Comparison of the 2 tools. 1pg• Purvi will give demo on Friday, and hours

project

• Build a new visualization • Evaluation• Groups 2-4• Choose topic• Literature review• Build it!• Write a paper about it• Give a presentation.