Teaching:TUW - UE InfoVis WS 2007/08 - Gruppe 09 - Aufgabe 2

Aufgabenstellung

Beschreibung der Aufgabe 2

Zu beurteilende Tabelle

Critics

Structural Components of Tables

Thoughtfully designed Data and Structural Components lead to clear and efficient communication.

Tables generally work best when they also contain additional text that is used to complement the categorical subdivisions and quantitative values in various ways. In Chapter 7, General Design for Communication, we noted that additional text can do the following:

• Label
• Introduce
• Explain
• Reinforce
• Highlight
• Sequence
• Recommend
• Inquire

[Few, 2004]

The table tries to explain its data with some text.

The title of the table should be clearly seperated from the table and maybe regrouped in a title and a sub title.

It states labels for the ASSETS and the FUND columns. These column headers label the information below them and should be separated from the data with a horizontal line.

The return values are clearly grouped with the spanner header RETURN. Maybe it should be stated that this is the return on investment. Below the RETURN spanner header we find column headers which state the period for which the data is valid. These should be separated from the data with a horizontal line. Furthermore it is not absolutely clear what there meaning is, and the mixing of so different periods makes it more difficult to understand the table. For example it would be interesting which 3 year period the 3-YR column covers.

The dollar and percent signs should not be introduced at the first data line. Data definitions should be part of the column headers.

The table does not try to focus my interest to a special area, because no area is specially highlighted.

Delineating columns and rows

The design process involves several decisions regarding the layout of columns and rows to provide a structure that is easy and efficient to read and understand. Readers should be able to scan quickly through the content to find what they need and perhaps make localized comparisons of related numbers.

[Few, 2004]

Columns and rows are delineated through

• White space
• Rules and grids
• Fill color

.

White space

White space is the preferred means for arraning data into columns and rows.

[Few, 2004]

It is not possible to read the rows without difficulty because the vertical white space between them is pretty small. Therefore it is recommended that the vertical white space between the rows is increased.

As well the horizontal white space between the columns should be increased to ease the reading of the columns. From my point of view, the comparison of the funds is the most interesting information in this table. To lead the reader to scan down the columns, it is advisable to pronounce the white space between the columns more than the one between the rows.

To make a clear distinction between row headers and data, the horizontal white space should be increased between these two parts. As well the horizontal white space between the ASSETS and FUND column should be increased a bit to make a clear distinction.

Rules and grids

Despite the uselessness of grids and the limited usefulness of rules to delineate columns and rows in tables, they are sometimes useful for grouping or highlighting subsets of data.

[Few, 2004]

In order to make the table more readable it is advisable to draw a line between the column headers and the data.

If the table is in its original context surrounded with some objects where there should be a clear distinction, thin lines could be drawn on each side. Remember to keep the lines as thin and light as possible.

A combination of horizontal and vertical rules could be used if there is an area of special interest.

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