How To Spot Data Visualizations, even on Television
By: Kimberly Grant
We’ve all seen them. We’ve tried not to look at our phones as they’ve been presented to us. We’ve even stifled yawns and eye rolls as we were witnessing them. By “them”, I mean the various boring pie charts and graphs that are used in presentations to convey data.
Engaging Visualizations
What if I told you there was a more engaging way to convey those charts and graphs without the yawns and eye rolls? According to Scott Berinato, in his book Good Charts, “dataviz (or data visualization) is a craft that relies on both art and science”. It’s also a clever way to convey ideas and concepts to help the viewer to understand data and analysis (without the boredom).
As a visual person, I can appreciate that dataviz is everywhere. Dataviz is even used for Instagram promotions where a user can get real-time traffic analysis of a specific post. You can see how many of your family members liked that post of you doing that thing.
Visual Agents
Another example of dataviz is the ultra-interactive holotable featured in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the series, scientists Leopold Fitz and Jemma Simmons use holographic interface to research data and find hidden clues to complete the team mission. That holotable is a form of dataviz.
Conveying the Story
There are no specific rules to dataviz and its creation. However, as a novelist in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, I compare dataviz to writing a sci-fi story. When the writers of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were writing episodes, they were essentially using the same concept of dataviz. They used elements of science in an artistic way in order to convey an idea or story. They also generated an awesome storyline.
You can find more information on artfully scientific chart making here.
