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Narrative in Data Visualization. Visual Information & Narrative. Information needs to be contextualized to give it meaning Process of visualizing data consists of giving it form and meaning through narrative Narrative structure: spatial , and/or time
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Visual Information & Narrative • Information needs to be contextualized to give it meaning • Process of visualizing data consists of giving it form and meaning through narrative • Narrative structure: spatial, and/or time • 2D visualization: Can express time through movement around the space of the image • Or through sequence of images • 3D spatial visualization: Multiple point of views
Narrative Temporal Structure • Start: Situation definition • Event: Event, transition, action, verb, etc. • Closure: Group information to make sense • Any of the 3 may be implied • Story normally evolves in time • Time often represented in space (graph)
After the Storm: Simulation of a Severe Storm • Sequence: impliesplot development • Divided screen: subsections imply sequence • Shape: Horizontal implies time length • Spatial proximity: object placed next to another signifies relationship • Direction: left-to-right, or reverse • Scale: signifies hierarchy • Repetition: Rhythmic emphasis
After the Storm: Simulation of a Severe Storm • Original video produced from data generated by a simulation on a CRAY supercomputer at NCSA, Illinois • The simulation models the genesis and lifetime of a severe storm • Edward Tufte proposed some optimization to the visualization
After the Storm: Simulation of a Severe Storm • Reduce impact of grid as it is too dominant • Aim for “just-noticeable difference” • Reduce dramatized colors (naturalize) • Provide clear timeline (red horizontal line) • Replace frentic time clock with mini-icons • Clarify that vertical scale is non-proportional • Make the storm the dominant visual element
After the Storm: Color Coding Issues • Colors based on “intent of analysis tasks” • Colorbar necessary to identify quantitative data values • Fewer colors that group best is better then full rainbow • For best color discrimination, use a limited color scheme (4 to 7)
Cinematic Time Based Narrative (Gérard Genette) • Order: Temporal-order of the narrative • Duration: Timing structure of the narrative • Frequency: relationship between event and its retelling • Mood: Distance and perspective • Distance: Is it told in direct, indirect mode? • Perspective: point of view • From a fixed position • Outside the action • Narrator knows less then the characters • Voice: What kind of narrator implied?
In the Screen/Image: Visual Narrative Tools • Sequence: impliesplot development • Divided screen: subsections imply sequence • Shape: Horizontal implies time length • Spatial proximity: object placed next to another signifies relationship • Direction: left-to-right, or reverse • Scale: signifies hierarchy • Repetition: Rhythmic emphasis
Invisible Shape of Things Past, Art + Com, Berlin • A spatial, temporal concept for the organization and navigation of film objects of a particular site over time • Video Documentation • Pdf Document
Bibliography • “After the Storm: considerations for Information Visualization”, NCSA, U of Illinois • “Visual Explanations”, Edward Tufte • Art + Com, Berlin