I've been reading a lot about data visualization recently.1 Maybe it's because I'm extremely near-sighted,2 but I've never been very visual. Nonetheless, it's finally dawned on me3 that most people are and that I need to learn more about communicating visually if I'm ever going to communicate effectively in published papers, formal presentations, or classrooms. Here's a video from Alex Lundry that makes the point a lot better than I ever could.
Hat tip: Andrew Gelman
1I'm currently reading Now you see it, by Stephen Few, and I highly recommend it.
2Even with glasses or contacts, my vision can only be corrected to about 20/40. When I visit the eye doctor and take off my glasses, I can't even tell that there's writing on the eye chart.
3Yes, Virginia, I am a slow learner.
1I'm currently reading Now you see it, by Stephen Few, and I highly recommend it.
2Even with glasses or contacts, my vision can only be corrected to about 20/40. When I visit the eye doctor and take off my glasses, I can't even tell that there's writing on the eye chart.
3Yes, Virginia, I am a slow learner.
I'd have to agree with Alex - Tufte's books (I have 3 of them) are beautiful.
I must caution you though. Once I started really thinking about data vis, I really disliked going to poster sessions and, to a lesser extent, seminars. Many many people just don't "get" the art of data visualization. Scientists tend to enter into science because it isn't art - yet data visualization is as much a science as it is an art.
Thanks for sharing that video! That's awesome and totally useful.
My pleasure. I'd be curious to know how you plan to use it. Let me know if you have a chance.