Tuft Principles of Visualizations - Essay Example

?Tuft Principles of Visualizations Presentation of visual graphics is a design that many people fail to grasp. In the current computerization age, there are many websites being developed each day to communicate to specific audience concerning a particular subject or information. The effectiveness of such a website largely depends on the original design and the arrangement and presentation of graphics to the audience. Poor presentation of graphics would meant that such visual aspects fail to communicate effective messages to the audience, and the targeted audience would not be motivated to maneuver through various elements of the graphic representation or to grasp the presented information. There is an importance of ensuring that such visual graphics are presented in a way that attracts and not repels the audience. There are various ways in which this might be achieved, and may include ensuring that the graphics are captivating to the eye and proper arrangement of the graphics is attained systematically in the graphical representation. The important aspects of presenting these visual graphics was investigated and presented by Edward Tuft, who presented an influential, approach of presentation of visual graphics through several principles. Tuft argues that graphical excellence in statistical graphics for example, must have complex ideas that are communicated with clarity, efficiency and precision (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 163). Therefore, tuft put forward a few principles that any graphical excellence has to abide with. These are: the graphical presentation has to show the data, induce the viewer to consider the data as the substance of the graphic rather than the methodology, design or the production of the graphics, the graphics have to avoid any distortion of the information that is conveyed, they have to present large numerical sets in a small space, have to make large datasets coherent and well visible and encourage the eyes of the audience to compare different parts of the data. Such an excellent graphic has to reveal several layers of detail, and has to serve a clear purpose, description , tabulation, decoration and exploration as well as being closely integrated with the statistical and verbal descriptions of data set as viewed by the audience. These principles by tuft have to guide the design and presentation of any graphical presentation that effectively serves its purpose as was designed for. According to (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 163), Tuft further considers visualizations that have cluttered graphics, that are incomprehensible as tempting to remove the data. Cluttered information is therefore an aspect of poor design and cannot be considered as being affected by the data presented by such design. (Source: http://www.shadedrelief.com/world/) Fig. 1 example of a well designed geovisualization The geovisualization to be investigated against the Tuft principles of visualization is a man showing the physical features of the globe that is found in the following link (http://www.nacis.org/data/world_map/map1/world1/world_map1.html. ). This geovisualization has been selected due to its unique presentation aspects that the designer of this map incorporated and the different perspectives in which the map can be viewed at. This geovisualization also portrays contrasting features as presented the designer and offers a good model through which Tuft principles of visualization can be well understood. The geovisualization portrays aw old map with all the important physical features visible and with descriptions well embedded in the map. It is an informative geovisualization that can be used to make decisions concerning this subject. One of the conditions as given by Tuft in designing visualization is that such visualization has to be clear and present the graphics and data with precision (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 163). The geovisualization in question has well portrayed these conditions in that the maps as representing the continents are clear and well visible with precision, it is easy to read through the physical features as presented without blurring images. The precision is much detailed as the amp has well defined boundaries that represent each continent, oceans, and the continental physical features to the greatest precision as found in any other precise map of the globe. The map presents a real representation of the globe as it is known today, without making any alterations on the same. Tuft principles require that such visualization has to show the data in a presentable way rather than portraying only images. The map has well presented data with precision of every physical feature and can be read with ease. The map in addition induces the viewer to consider the data as presented rather than the methodology, graphics or the map production. Data provided is essential in that the numerical data describes the physical features to the reader and further explains the presented facts as observed. The viewer is therefore more interested in reading the presented data, rather than concentrating on the methodology in which the map has been designed. Each element in the map is well labeled with clarity and this data as Tuft suggests is of more importance compared to the graphics presented by the designer. The importance of this geovisualization is viewed when gauged against more elaborate Tuft principles of visualization. Tuft as Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere (2009, 164) elaborate presented some features that more enhance the visualization of graphics in a dynamic way. According to Tuft a dialogue style on presenting visualization adds more value to the graphics, and is important in interactive visualizations. This is achieved when it is possible to manipulate the visualization and navigate through such visual spaces by exploitation of the user’s knowledge of their interactions in the physical world. The tem direct manipulation in this case as coined by Sheneiderman (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 165), refers to the presentation of graphics, which have physical actions. Designers as Tuft suggests have a role to present graphics that have direct manipulation objects that helps the viewer to manipulate the graphics as required to view different properties and data from such graphics in different dimensions or view points. These general manipulation principles have been well presented in the geovisualization in question. As the map represents a relatively large data set with graphics being broad and to scale, it is not possible to present each data in the graphic at the same viewpoint of the reader. The graphic designer has therefore incorporated the manipulation keys, where the reader can adjust the view of the graphics as required, and to make the details more clear and understandable. This graphic representation in its dynamic presentation can be used by those with sight defects as the data can be manipulated as large as possible or as small as possible depending with the appropriate view of the reader. This is an attempt of the graphical presentation of the geovisualization to make large data coherent as required by Tuft principles of visualization. Large numerical data in this geovisualization have been well designed and well presented to the reader in a small space as the Tuft principles suggest. This is achieved through systematic use of the dynamic keys where the reader can manipulate the large and small data sets accordingly so as to make coherent visualization. This further enhances the aspect that Tuft argues that such visualization has to motivate the viewer to consider the data as compared to the methodology and design of such visualization. Each of these dynamic features the geovisualization presents each and every minute detail as would be required from the map and this makes the geovisualization to present each aspect with a high degree of coherence and precision. The presented navigation keys can be used to maneuver across the geovisualization and this makes the interaction between the viewer and the visualization to be effective. Tuft suggests that a graphical presentation has to have a sense of graphic excellence though consisting of complex ideas that are communicated with clarity, efficiency and precision (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 164). World maps as expected consist of complex features with numerous physical features that require detailed and precise presentation. The numerous ideas being presented in a limited space on the geovisualization is a case of complex and detailed ideas that represent a high degree of clarity, effectiveness and efficiency. Efficiency and effectiveness in this map is achieved in that the geovisualization presents each and every physical feature making them well visible and the viewer does not have to comb the through many graphics to make out the required information. Presenting the whole globe with main physical features presented in the globe is a high case of efficient and effective interaction between the viewer and the graphical visualization. The map is therefore a good case of graphical excellence, gauged against Tuft principles of visualization. Another tuft principle that makes visualization ineffective is the cluttering of graphics that are incomprehensible and that make viewing of the data difficult (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 164). An example would be graphics with too much glaring colors and data that is poorly comprehensible in the visualization. As earlier explained, the viewer has to be motivated to view the data more as compared to the methodology of the graphics presentation. Such presentation as Tuft elaborates has tendency to make the viewer tempted to remove the data out of the graphics and leave the poorly designed graphics all alone. This is a high case of poorly designed graphic. The map in question has been well designed such that the graphics have been well presented and no clutter or glare is observed from the map. To make it more clear and avoid monotony, as well as offering the sense of difference in physical features, the graphic has different colors representing different physical features. For example, oceans have a deep blue color with the shallow edges having a light blue color, deserts and savannas have more brownish colors and other color variations as utilized throughout the graphic to make out different meanings to the reader. This is in accordance to Tuft principles, which require that such visualization has to reveal the data and other presentations in different layers of detail. These different layers when viewed communicate different meanings to the viewer, and this serves the intended purpose of the visualization. These differences in presentation facilitate the eye of the viewer to compare different parts of the data (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 164). Different layers will enhance the viewer to make out the differences in the physical features and compare these features to make an informed decision regarding the same. This makes the visualization to serve the required purpose effectively. Tuft principles require that visualization has to serve clear purposes which include description, exploitation, tabulation or decoration (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 164). These details are easily visible from the map in question. The map is more descriptive as it portrays the world physical features and this clear purpose is coherent throughout the graphic. The descriptive property is precise and concise such that the viewer can precisely locate any physical feature in its appropriate location in a real case situation. The aspect of closely integrating graphics with statistical and verbal description of data set is missing from this map, but as would be required, such graphics are well defined with descriptive data and the verbal aspect of such data is not important in this case. Tuft further argues that design has to be simplified without affecting the data. Simplifying the graphics mean that each aspect of the graphic has to be precisely viewed and compared in relation to other data in the graphic as required by Tuft. Cluttered graphics cannot present such interaction between the data set since the precision in the data cannot be well visualized. This has been well presented in the design of the map and makes it an ideal design of graphic that brings out all aspects with a high degree of clarity and precision. Tuft principles of visualization have been well presented in this graphic. An effective design of visualization is important in ensuring that such representation provides purposeful data and other information with a high degree of coherence, clarity and precision. Tuft generated several principles that any visualization has to ensure to be considered as effective and achieve a status of graphical excellence. These features are aimed at establishing proper interaction between the visualization and the viewer to ensure that the information is conceived with ease. Cluttered graphics and lack of using layers to present different information are some of the problems that visualizations portray and greatly affect the clarity and precision of such graphic visualizations. Therefore, following Tuft principles of visualizations would ensure captivating graphics that are purposeful and that establish an enhanced interaction between the viewer and the graphic. List of references Seinstra, Z.E., Adriansen, T., & Liere, R., 2009. Trends in interactive visualization: Start of the art survey. Amsterdam: Springer Verlag Read More

 

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