How to Present How to Present Information Information

Christine RobsonChristine Robson

October 25, 2007October 25, 2007

TopicsTopics

Human Perception- Quick ReviewHuman Perception- Quick Review Presenting InformationPresenting Information VisualizationsVisualizations

Quick Review:Quick Review:Human PerceptionHuman Perception

Stage Theory of Stage Theory of Human Perception & Human Perception & MemoryMemory

Sensory Image Store

WorkingMemory

Long TermMemory

““Short Term”Short Term” Visual information storeVisual information store Auditory information storeAuditory information store Pre-attentive ProcessingPre-attentive Processing

Sensory Image Store

WorkingMemory

Long TermMemory

decay decay,displacement

decay?interference?

maintenance rehearsal

elaboration

Working Memory:Working Memory: Small capacitySmall capacity ~ 7 +/- 2 chunks~ 7 +/- 2 chunks

Long Term Long Term Memory:Memory: Huge capacityHuge capacity

Recall vs. RecognitionRecall vs. Recognition

Two main ways we access memory:Two main ways we access memory:

Recognition:Recognition: when provided with a cue to the information in when provided with a cue to the information in

memorymemory eg. feeling of familiarity, matching, multiple. choice, eg. feeling of familiarity, matching, multiple. choice,

True/False on exams, recognizing someone you True/False on exams, recognizing someone you know... know...

Recall:Recall: drawing the information from memory without (or with drawing the information from memory without (or with

minimal) cues. minimal) cues. eg. coming up with the name for person you eg. coming up with the name for person you

recognized, remembering what command to type, fill-recognized, remembering what command to type, fill-in-the-blank on exams. in-the-blank on exams.

Presenting Presenting InformationInformation

PresentPresentInformationInformation Sibley Guide Sibley Guide

To BirdsTo Birds Lots of DataLots of Data Many types ofMany types of

InformationInformation Yet succinctYet succinct

Train Train SchedulesSchedules

Periodic Table of Periodic Table of Visualization Methods Visualization Methods

http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html#

Tables are great!Tables are great!

ChartjunkChartjunk

The interior decoration of graphics generates a The interior decoration of graphics generates a lot of ink that does not tell the viewer anything lot of ink that does not tell the viewer anything new. The purpose of decoration varies – to make new. The purpose of decoration varies – to make the graphic appear more scientific and precise, the graphic appear more scientific and precise, to enliven the display, to give the designer an to enliven the display, to give the designer an opportunity to exercise artistic skills. Regardless opportunity to exercise artistic skills. Regardless of its cause, it is all non-data-ink or redundant of its cause, it is all non-data-ink or redundant data-ink, and it is often chartjunk.data-ink, and it is often chartjunk.

Edward Tufte Edward Tufte The Visual Display of Quantitative The Visual Display of Quantitative

InformationInformation..

ChartjunkChartjunk

Automatic Charts in Automatic Charts in ExcelExcel

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Dog Cat Fish Frog Parrot no pet

Students with Pets

Students with Pets

DogCat

FishFrog

Parrotno pet

Students with Pets

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Students with PetsStudents w ith Pets

Dog

Cat

Fish

Frog

Parrot

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Dog Cat Fish Frog Parrot no pet

Students with Pets

Students with Pets

InformationInformationthat mattersthat matters

Edward Edward

TufteTufte

InformationInformationthat mattersthat matters

Edward Edward

TufteTufte

AutomaticAutomatic

PPT ChartsPPT Charts

InformationInformationthat mattersthat matters

Edward Edward

TufteTufte

Without theWithout the

chartjunkchartjunk

Data-Ink MaximizationData-Ink Maximization

Tufte defines two types of ink used Tufte defines two types of ink used to construct a graph: to construct a graph: – data-ink - the essential non-erasable data-ink - the essential non-erasable

ink used to present the data ink used to present the data – non-data-ink - the redundant ink used non-data-ink - the redundant ink used

to elaborate or decorate the graph to elaborate or decorate the graph The Data-Ink Ratio is defined as The Data-Ink Ratio is defined as

the percentage: (100 x Data-ink) / the percentage: (100 x Data-ink) / (Total ink used on graphic) (Total ink used on graphic)

Minard’s Map of Minard’s Map of Napoleon's MarchNapoleon's March

Map by Charles Joseph Minard portrays the losses suffered by Map by Charles Joseph Minard portrays the losses suffered by Napoleon's army in the Russian campaign of 1812Napoleon's army in the Russian campaign of 1812

Lots of InformationLots of Information

Beginning at the Polish-Russian border, the thick Beginning at the Polish-Russian border, the thick band shows the size of the army at each positionband shows the size of the army at each position

The path of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow in the The path of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow in the bitterly cold winter is depicted by the dark lower bitterly cold winter is depicted by the dark lower band, which is tied to temperature and time scales. band, which is tied to temperature and time scales.

Sparklines Sparklines Edward TufteEdward Tufte

data-intense, design-simple, data-intense, design-simple, word-sized graphics word-sized graphics

small, high resolution graphics small, high resolution graphics embedded in a context of words, embedded in a context of words, numbers, images numbers, images

SparklinesU.S. stock market activity (February 7, 2006)

Index Day Value Change

Dow Jones                              10765.45 −32.82 (−0.30%)

S&P 500                              1256.92 −8.10 (−0.64%)

Nasdaq                              2244.83 −13.97 (−0.62%)

VisualizationVisualization

Assembly Assembly DiagramsDiagrams

Protein FoldingProtein Folding

Company Company RelationshipsRelationships

Networks of Networks of relationshipsrelationshipsfrom the webfrom the web

OPEC Ministers and Large Companies

Web topics relating to Web topics relating to autosautos

Honda and Toyota are the most frequently discussed

Honda: fuel economy

GM: New models and future plans

HEV’s and SUV’s: Ford

Visualizing Network Visualizing Network TrafficTraffic

Walrus

http://www.caida.org/tools/visualization/walrus/gallery1/

GrokkerGrokker

web-based enterprise search web-based enterprise search management platform management platform

leverages the power of federated leverages the power of federated content access and visualization to content access and visualization to maximize the value of information maximize the value of information assets for enterprises, content assets for enterprises, content publishers, libraries and other publishers, libraries and other research-intensive organizations research-intensive organizations

– From Grokker.comFrom Grokker.com

Gap Minder (Google)Gap Minder (Google)

Hans Rosling’s 2007 TED TalkHans Rosling’s 2007 TED Talk Software to visualise human Software to visualise human

developmentdevelopment Non-profit venture Non-profit venture

http://http://www.gapminder.orgwww.gapminder.org//

Nuts & BoltsNuts & Bolts

Facebook Causes AppFacebook Causes AppGuest Lecture Nov 6thGuest Lecture Nov 6thSean ParkerSean Parker Chairman of Project AgapeChairman of Project Agape Managing Partner at The Founders FundManaging Partner at The Founders Fund Co-founder of Napster, Plaxo, and FacebookCo-founder of Napster, Plaxo, and Facebook

  Joe GreenJoe Green CEO & co-founder of Project AgapeCEO & co-founder of Project Agape founder and former CEO of essembly.com founder and former CEO of essembly.com   Chris ChanChris Chan Facebook Causes Application Product ManagerFacebook Causes Application Product Manager Designer and Product Manager at Designer and Product Manager at

essembly.com essembly.com 

ReadingsReadings

““Olympic Message System” for Olympic Message System” for Tuesday, in Google GroupTuesday, in Google Group

Chapters from Tufte up on the Chapters from Tufte up on the Google GroupGoogle Group

Exams BackExams Back

If you’d like us to explain your If you’d like us to explain your score on a question, set up a score on a question, set up a meeting (email us)meeting (email us)– Question 1,2,4,6: ChristineQuestion 1,2,4,6: Christine– Question 3,5: JohnQuestion 3,5: John

Our policy on disputed grades is Our policy on disputed grades is to re-grade your entire examto re-grade your entire exam

Grade SummaryGrade Summary

Summary page of all your gradesSummary page of all your grades Please check for discrepanciesPlease check for discrepancies