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DATA VISUALIZATION Data visualization or data visualization is the creation and study of the visual representation of data. Data can be presented in a pictorial or graphical format. [1] [2] Contents 1.	Overview 2.	Data visualization scope 3.	Examples of diagrams used for data visualization 4.	Data visualization techniques 5.	Data visualization software 6.	Related fields 6.1 Data transformation and visualization 7.	Data presentation architecture 7.1	The architect of data visualization 8.	See also 9.	References 10.	External links

Overview “According to Friedman (2008) the main goal of data visualization is to communicate information clearly and effectively through graphical means.” For a lot of years now, people have depended on visual representations such as maps, graphs, pictures and charts to understand information more easily and quickly. It is faster for people to comprehend and embrace the meaning of many data points when they are displayed in charts and graphs that than over piles of spreadsheets or reading pages and pages of reports. [1] [2] “Data visualization is closely related to information graphics (Infographics).” Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably but it is possible to identify some differences between the two. “Infographics use data visualizations in concert with text and other tactics to tell a story, make a point or communicate a concept.” The use of visuals in Data visualization, help stimulate conversation and meaning making around data that is usually different form simply presenting the textual or numerical data. [3] Data Visualization Scope [4] The scope of Data visualization has different approaches, and one common focus is on information presentation. There are seven subjects of data visualization are:- •	“Mind maps •	Displaying news •	Displaying Data •	Displaying connections •	Displaying websites •	Articles & Resources •	Tools and Services” “On the other hand, from a computer science perspective, it can be categorized as:- •	Visualization algorithms & techniques •	Volume visualization •	Information visualization •	Multi resolution methods •	Modelling techniques •	Interaction techniques & architectures.” Examples of diagrams used for data visualization [5] Bar Chart Stream graph Tree map

Gantt Chart Scatter Plot Data visualization techniques For someone to generate the best visuals for displaying your data, there are a few basic concepts that can help you. •	“Understand the data you are trying to visualize, including the size and cardinality (the uniqueness of data values in column.) •	Determine what you are trying to visualize and what kind of information you want to communicate. •	Know your audience and understand how it processes visual information. •	Use a visual that conveys the information in the best and simplest form for your audience.” [1] Data visualization software There is a lot of data visualization software that is available for the public to use either for free or for purchase. [6] •	Tableau public is an example of free data visualization software that lets you create visualizations and then publish them to the web. It allows you to customize labels, tool tips, interactive filters and legend displays. •	Plot.io is similar to the Tableau Public software, but it is web-based. •	“Many eyes is data visualization software that lets you use your own data for visualizations.” •	“Gapminder Desktop allows you to show animated statistics right on your computer. It uses up-to-date data from Gapminder World, updated automatically whenever new data is available.” •	Google Public Data works the same way Gapminder Desktop works, but it allows you to turn public data into a simple visualization. •	Inkscape is very easy to use, free open-source vector data visualization software. •	“Stat Silk is data visualization software that lets you access world data and customizes the way data is presented visually.” Other visualization softwares which cater to the uses of different segments of users are:- •	“Amira- For Scientists •	Avizo- Engineers and Scientists •	Davix- Security Consultant •	Data watch- Business users •	Fusioncharts- Programmers •	Gephi- Statistician •	Tulip- Researchers and Engineers •	Qunb- Non-expert Business users” [4] Data transformation and visualization Both Real-time and offline data can be automated and transformed from one format to another through a process called data transforms. “Data transformation and visualization tools transform raw data collected during program execution to yield data and images more easily understood by the programmer.” Some of the examples of specific tools used in data transformation and displaying formats include; Traces, Profile and Counts and Data-parallel Languages. [7] Data presentation architecture “Data presentation architecture (DPA) is a skill-set that seeks to identify, locate, manipulate, format and present data in such a way as to optimally communicate meaning and proffer knowledge.” DPA exists as a separate field of expertise and it is neither an IT nor business skill set. It is often confused with data visualization but the difference is, DPA is a much broader skill set that includes determining what data on what schedule and in which exact format is to be presented, not just the best way to present data that has already been chosen, which is what data visualization is about. “Data visualization skills are one element of DPA.” The main objectives of DPA are: to use data to provide knowledge in the most efficient manner possible and it also provides knowledge in the most effective manner. [4] The Architect of Data Visualization Angela Shen-Hsieh is an architectural graduate, and she runs a data visualization software company targeting big pharma. “Shen-Hsieh founded Visual i/o (the i/o originally stood for input/output) back in 2002 with CTO Mark Schindler as a spin-off from consulting firm Schindler and Associates, in order to focus specifically on data visualization for decision support.” The software is all web based and it essentially leverages existing data aggregation. This software also “provides a light weight layer that can act as a lens so that, across an organization or a dataset, you have common ways of looking at the data in the same way.” [8] See also 	Data mining 	Data analysis 	Information Architecture 	Information Visualization 	Software visualization 	Statistical Graphics 	Visual analytics 	Data Profiling 	Business Intelligence 	Scientific visualization

References 1.	SAS. (n.d.). Data Visualization. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from www.sas.com website: http://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/big-data/data-visualization.html 2.	Data visualization. (2014, April 14). Retrieved April 29, 2014, from wikipedia.org website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_visualization 3.	Data Visualization Tools. (2014). Retrieved April 26, 2014, from www.kstoolkit.org website: http://www.kstoolkit.org/ Data+Visualization+Tools 4.	Kumar, V. (2013, November 12). Data Visualisation and Data Presentation Architecture. Retrieved May 14, 2014, from http://velugurikumar2.blogspot.com/ 5.	Examples of diagrams used for data visualization. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2014, from google.com website: https://www.google.com/ search?q=examples+of+diagrams+used+for+data+visualization&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa =X&ei=qMeMU6X3KcjfoATsroCICA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=806 6.	visual.ly. (2014). Data visualization software. Retrieved May 22, 2014, from http://visual.ly/learn/data-visualization-software 7.	Foster, I. (1995). Data Transformation and Visualization. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from www.mcs.anl.gov website: http://www.mcs.anl.gov/~itf/dbpp/text/ node109.html 8.	Davies, K. (2008). The architect of data visualization. Bio - IT World, 7(7), 12-15. Retrieved fromhttp://ezproxy.bellevue.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/222718783?accountid=28125 External links 	Data visualization. (2014, April 14). Retrieved April 29, 2014, from wikipedia.org website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_visualization 	Petronzio, M. (2013, March 5). 10 Fascinating Data Visualization Projects. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from mashable.com website: http://mashable.com/ 2013/03/05/data-visualization-projects/ 	Frand, J. (n.d.). Data Mining: What is Data Mining? Retrieved May 30, 2014, from www.anderson.ucla.edu website: http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/ jason.frand/teacher/technologies/palace/datamining.htm 	Plus Media Solutions. (2014, May 29). US Patent granted to Ebay Inc. (California) on May 27 titled as "Business intelligence based social network with virtual data-visualization cards". Retrieved May 30, 2014, from www.lexisnexis.com website: http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/ lnacademic/ 	Olivares, E. (2013, January 21). Scope of Data Visualization. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from ernestoolivares.com website: http://ernestoolivares.com/ scope-of-data-visualization