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Tag Archives: #DataVisualizations
Comparing Products to Find the Best Fit
Comparison charts are a great way for consumers to compare multiple products from a company in order to determine which one is right for them. Let’s take the company Apple for instance. They provide many options on buying an IPad, but how do you know which one to get? There are many different charts that you can look at in to determine which one is best for you. First let’s start with the basics. Think about what you are using the IPad for. If you are simply taking notes then a regular IPad will do just fine. However if you plan to use it for editing or designing you might want to look closer at display sizes and resolution options.
Another way to compare them is how well they perform. Someone who needs this device for high demanding and important work may wanna go with the IPad that has a higher megabit speed.
Lastly, and I think the most important to a lot of people, is how much each device costs. Comparison charts like this allow you to gauge how much this investment could cost you. Charts like the one below or the two above can usually be found on the company’s website or online forums for tech users.
Resources and Further Reading
Comparing Numbers
I came across an interesting dataset and a corresponding visualization that compared the characteristics of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney during the 2012 US presidential debates. The graph in question is a radar plot displaying 12 characteristics of the candidates’ words during the debates. These characteristics include “directness,” “talkativeness,” “sophistication,” and more.
However, I found the radar chart a bit challenging to interpret effectively when comparing the two candidates. I’d like to discuss two valuable tips that can make such comparisons clearer when using graph visualizations:
- Graphing the Differences: When comparing two groups, it’s often more intuitive to graph the differences between them rather than plotting each group separately. This can help viewers focus on what sets the groups apart. In the context of the 2012 debates, this could mean creating a graph that visually emphasizes the differences in characteristics between Obama and Romney, making it easier to identify distinctions in their speaking styles.
- Sorting Categories by Meaningful Quantity: In any plot that has a categorical axis, it’s essential to sort the categories by a meaningful quantity. This ensures that the visualization effectively conveys the message you intend. For instance, if the radar chart includes characteristics like “directness” and “sophistication,” consider sorting these characteristics in a way that highlights the most relevant differences between the candidates.
As for the dataset provided, it appears that the numbers represent the relative percentages of each characteristic attributed to Obama and Romney during the debates. For example, in the category “Individualism,” 47% of the phrases were attributed to Obama, while 53% were attributed to Romney.
By Shaun Sneddon
https://blogs.sas.com/content/iml/2013/08/21/comparing-two-groups-graphically.html
Benchmark Visualizations
I find the “U.S. Social Sentiment Index” quite intriguing. It’s a creative way of harnessing the power of social media, specifically Twitter, to gauge our nation’s mood in near-real-time. What caught my attention, in particular, is how they use benchmarks to add context to the sentiment data.
In this case, they don’t just look at raw sentiment but also compare it to the current sentiment on Twitter. This means that they calculate a benchmark sentiment level based on the tweets they’re analyzing and then position the current sentiment relative to that benchmark. This approach is crucial because it provides a point of reference. It helps us understand whether the current sentiment is above or below the average sentiment of tweets from people across the country. For instance, if “most states are in the negative,” it suggests that the sentiment in those states is predominantly negative compared to the average sentiment in the analyzed tweets.
What’s even more fascinating is how this data is presented in near-real-time, updating hourly. It’s like having a live pulse on the nation’s emotions, and for data enthusiasts like us, that’s a treasure trove of insights. It’s a reminder of how data visualization can make complex information accessible and meaningful.
By Shaun Sneddon
http://graphics.wsj.com/twitter-sentiment/
Data Visualizations in Health
Vizhealth was a very interesting website to navigate and learn from. Two of the tools I used that helped create the data visualizations above was the risk calculator and the icon array generator. The first tool I used was the Risk generator. It prompted me with some questions to answer regarding my health, age, and other personal information. I decided to have fun with the calculator and input information that reflected an older woman with high cholesterol levels. The calculator then generated the visualizations to the right above to help me understand the results better. I think this is very helpful for visual learners in all fields, but especially the healthcare industry. This industry could not exist with performing studies and experiments, and these visualizations help make understanding results, ten times easier. After using this calculator, I then used the icon array generator. This tool was useful in visualizing the comparison between the true likelihood of a person with a similar health history to this woman developing cardiovascular disease.
Art of Information: Free Infographic Tools
There are many websites that offer free, easy to use, infographics. I found one called Piktochart. Very easy to sign up at (piktochart.com).
With infographics, we know there is visual engagement, storytelling, clarity and simplification if done correctly. With the right visual, it becomes more memorable and sharable. People tend to remember information that is presented with an infographic.
Below is an example of an infographic and its editing tools.
Developing Lyme Disease
I found Icon Array very useful and easy to use. I liked how it allowed me to change font size, color, etc. I would use it for simple data and no-frills visualizations to display for an audience. I played around with the colors for my example.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Helpful Tools for Creating Effective Infographics
Link to image: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stefficao/friendship-pinterest-board-tiktok-trends
One of the most important tools for creating an infographic, is finding a solid platform to find useful photos and images pertaining to the topic of your graphic. One of the most useful platforms I have found for this job is Pinterest. Pinterest is an interactive social media platform that allows you to create a virtual “scrapbook” of images and links pertaining to your interests and needs. Once the user makes their own account, they are then able to browse through millions of photos, videos, links, and webpages curated to their specific interests. The user is then able to create virtual boards and folders that can be personalized with names to keep projects and ideas organized. All the user has to do is “pin” whatever image or link they may find interesting to one of their personal boards. Many times Pinterest is used for planning parties, costume ideas, organizational tips, style inspiration, and so much more. There is also a growing use of people sharing art, photos, and different images that can be used in digital design and the making of infographics. These images can help curate different aesthetics and appeal to different audiences’ moods and emotions.
Tools That May Helps Us Construct Infographics
Infographics are becoming increasingly popular over the years. With most information now being shared online there are some tools that can help you create the best infographic.
- Canva
Canva is a free design webpage that provides hundreds of templates for flyers, posters, presentations, and more. If you do not want to use the templates you are still able to create your own work. They offer many options for graphics or you could upload your own. The website also allows you to share your design so multiple people on your team can work together. Students can sign up for CanvaEducation and get access to even more templates and graphics for free.
2. Procreate
Procreate is an editing and art software that allows users to create artwork and edit images. It can be downloaded in the app store for Apple product users for $10. The app gives you options of multiple tools to draw, write, add images, and crop whatever you want.
3. Adobe Illustrator
Similar to Procreate, Adobe Illustrator or Ai allows you to create just about anything you want. Ai can be downloaded on any desktop, PC, or tablet. It allows you to draw designs, add text, and upload graphics to your canvas. Adobe Illustrator does require you to have an adobe account and is free to download and use. However to unlock more features and tools it costs a monthly subscription $20.99.
Insightful Data Visualizations
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/louise.shorten/viz/BeautifulMusic/1_Mozart-SymphonyNo40
We live in such an information rich world that visualizations are everywhere. When we interact with our phones to get directions to our next location, we are met with a visualization that displays travel time, route, traffic, and other helpful data to help us choose how to navigate to our destination. This creates a data rich landscape that helps us understand more of what is going on in the world around us. Navigation and mapping visualizations have given us more efficient ways to commute, travel, and explore.
Other maps can be created using data that is not traditionally geographical. Pictured above is a visualization of Mozart’s Symphony 40 created by Louise Shorten using Tableau. This is basically a map of the sound. Different colors represent different instruments. The musical scale moves from the inside of the arc (lowest notes) to the outside of the arc (highest notes) with the size of each circle being the length of time each note is played. The song moves in time from left to right along the arc and each note has a position on that line. This type of visualization is very powerful because it allows us to interpret something we already interact with in a whole new way.
Click the link above to interact with this visualization.
Infographics
Exceptional visualization examples: Kurzgesagt
Link to image: Kurzgesagt | Logopedia | Fandom
Link to channel: Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell – YouTube
For this week’s blog post, I am sharing one of my favorite content creators from YouTube. Their channel is titled “Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell,” and they specialize in short, scientific, informational videos. All of their content contains a great deal of creative, and effective infographics. Kurzgesagt excels at achieving the ideal blend of artistic expression and information display, often the main focus of information visualization. Combinations of encaptivating characters, objects, and places alongside smooth and crafty transitions help to educate the general public on some fascinating topics. All that is required is to find a topic or title that jumps out to you, and their videos will speak for themselves.