Talk:Data Visualization

Data Visualization vs. Information Visualization

What are the differences between DataVis and InfoVis? Yijisoo

Hard question

Wohoo - that's the one million dollar question I was thinking about many times ;-)

I've found no definition in literature that would point out the differences between the two terms. Anyways, I tried to differentiate the two terms by means of needed semantics for meaningful visualizations:

Data Visualization: Visualization techniques for data represent a set of parameters over time graphically whereas no semantics are needed in order to create a meaningful visualization (e.g., Scatterplot). This also includes simple processing on raw data that do not require semantics (derived data; e.g., Histogram, Boxplot, mean, other statistical measures, clustering, etc.). Furthermore, data visualization techniques are often of static nature.

Information Visualization: In contrast to the previous class, visualization techniques for information need semantics, i.e., the meaning of different parameters and their interrelationships or structure are important in order to create a meaningful representation (e.g., InfoBUG glyph).

What do you think about this definitions?

-- Wolfgang Aigner 09:43, 6 June 2006 (CEST)

Quite possible. I like your distinction. Some publications I found regarding DataVis mostly come from statistics. I am not sure about the interactivity, though. I noticed some DataVis using interactions techniques. I believe that interactivity was added as they are available with the evolution of computer graphic technologies. BTW, the following google trend might be interesting to you. --Yijisoo 21:57, 7 June 2006 (CEST)

I think you are perfectly right with your observation regarding statistics. It's also what I experienced. Most likely the difference in wording stems from different originating communities, whereas "data visualization" comes from statistics and "information visualization" from computer science. -- Wolfgang Aigner 09:34, 9 June 2006 (CEST)

Google Trend: Information Visualization vs. Data Visualization

Actually, [Friendly and Denis, 2004] provides a good comparisons among infovis, datavis, and scivis in the "Varieties of data visualization" section under the Introduction section. --Yijisoo 23:02, 7 June 2006 (CEST)