Overview

Information Visualization is telling stories from data. The aim of this module is to introduce principles of information visualisation, develop critical evaluation skills, learn about visual design methods (such as the Five Design-Sheet sketching method), and use programming skills to create and present a new visualisation. Students discover stories hidden in some chosen data, and design their own visualisation to graphically depict the information, which is often presented alongside text, tables and other suitable methods.

Indicative content includes:

• History and future of Information Visualization; the challenges of Information Visualization; tasks; user, perception, data types.

• Looking at data. Data capture and problems of capturing data. Selection/abstraction of data (aggregation, sampling; binning; cropping); Big data challenges.

• Understand current visualisation techniques, including traditional plots (bar, line, scatter etc.), parallel coordinate plots, treemaps, re-orderable matrix; scatter plot matrix.

• Perception, visual mapping and interpretation; understanding how humans perceive information. Encoding of value; Encoding of relation; Models: Bertin, Mackinlay (Quantitative, Ordinal, and Categorical), Semiotics.

• Design of visualisations, Five Design-Sheet method; Consideration and critical thinking around alternative solutions.

• Storytelling and Presentation. Display, layout and presentation of visual information. Interaction and static presentation. Techniques such as focus-and-context, size adjustment, scale and distortion; multiple views and composite displays.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Equivalent to 50%. Uses key areas of theory or knowledge to meet the Learning Outcomes of the module. Is able to formulate an appropriate solution to accurately solve tasks and questions. Can identify individual aspects, but lacks an awareness of links between them and the wider contexts. Outputs can be understood, but lack structure and/or coherence.

-good -Equivalent to the range 60%-69%. Is able to analyse a task or problem to decide which aspects of theory and knowledge to apply. Solutions are of a workable quality, demonstrating understanding of underlying principles. Major themes can be linked appropriately but may not be able to extend this to individual aspects. Outputs are readily understood, with an appropriate structure but may lack sophistication.

-excellent -Equivalent to the range 70%+ Assemble critically evaluated, relevant areas of knowledge and theory to constuct professional-level solutions to tasks and questions presented. Is able to cross-link themes and aspects to draw considered conclusions. Presents outputs in a cohesive, accurate, and efficient manner.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply information visualization techniques (Representation, Presentation, and Interaction) to develop new visualization techniques.

• Critically evaluate Information Visualization techniques and suitability for a given purpose.

• Describe different aspects of data, identify, analyse and evaluate component parts.

• Evaluate and develop alternative visualization design solutions through sketching and planning.

• Select appropriate visual techniques for a particular context.