Prachesta Magazine

What Is Data Visualization?

Santonu Dhar FCMI

8 months ago

Data Visualization

Data visualization is a useful tool that helps people and groups show information in a clear and attractive way. By changing complicated data into charts, graphs, maps, and other visuals, data visualization makes it easier for viewers to see patterns and insights that might be hard to spot just by looking at the numbers.

Table of Contents show

What is data visualization?

Easier to process

Promotes learning

Identifies trends

Boosts productivity

Importance of Data Visualization

Examples of Data Visualization

Top 3 Data Visualization Tools

Data Visualization: Best Practices

In this blog post, we will explain what data visualization is, give examples of how it’s used in different areas, and offer resources for those who want to learn more about this important skill.

What is data visualization?

Data visualization is a useful tool for presenting data in a simple way. Instead of just looking at numbers, we can use graphs and charts to highlight the most important information. This makes it easier for people to see patterns, connections, and trends in the data.

Imagine you’re in a meeting and you need to share a lot of data from a spreadsheet. It would be difficult for everyone to understand and analyze it all by just looking at numbers. However, if you convert that data into graphs or charts, it becomes much easier to comprehend. The colors and shapes help illustrate the highs and lows in the data, making it easier for people to grasp the main points.

Data visualization is important because it allows us to quickly understand information without delving deep into the data. It narrates a story and simplifies complex information into something actionable. When faced with a large amount of data, it can be overwhelming. However, with data visualization, we can interpret and utilize it to make decisions.

There are two main types of data visualization: exploration and explanation. Exploration helps us identify patterns and gain a better understanding of the data. Explanation assists in simplifying the data so that it can be easily understood by all. Both types are crucial for utilizing data effectively and making well-informed decisions.

Types of Data Visualization

Exploratory

Analyzing data is crucial when you get a new set of information. This first step involves closely examining the data, identifying its main features, and setting the groundwork for a deeper analysis. Visualizing the data helps you see its contents and spot any important patterns or anomalies. The aim is to uncover helpful insights and extract valuable information from the data set.

Explanatory

After you analyze the data, it’s crucial to share it with those interested. They may want to act on the information. To help them understand, use graphs and visuals that clearly show the data. Picking the right visuals is important for getting your message across.

In short, begin by examining the data visually. Then, use visuals to explain your discoveries when you’re ready to share them.

Let’s now look at the advantages and disadvantages of data visualization:

Advantages

Data visualization is crucial in the rapidly expanding data industry. According to a report from Statista, the global big data market is projected to reach a substantial $64 billion in 2021. This indicates the industry’s significant growth, involving tasks such as data manipulation and analysis. Despite their proficiency in handling complex data sets, professionals in big data companies still rely on simplified data visualization for enhanced understanding.

Easier to process

Presenting information in a visual way is beneficial because it’s easier to grasp. Our brains are good at processing images quickly. A study from MIT found that our brains can understand whole images in just 13 milliseconds.

Using graphs and charts to display data is useful for those who aren’t comfortable with large amounts of data or are short on time. With data visualization, you can easily spot key details and make decisions based on what you see.

Promotes learning

Recent studies have found that using images and visuals in educational materials can be very beneficial. It makes learning more engaging and improves our cognitive abilities. When we incorporate graphs and pictures to present information, it not only simplifies comprehension but also enhances our interest in the topic.

Identifies trends

Data visualization helps simplify complex data by showing it in visual formats, making it easier to see trends and patterns. Visual representations remove extra details, like words and symbols, to focus on key trends and enhance data analysis.

Boosts productivity

More businesses are using data analytics and visualization tools to help them make better decisions. These tools allow organizations to analyze data more effectively, leading to quicker decision-making and improved productivity.

Disadvantages

Complicated pictures with lots of data could trick us into wrong ideas. If visuals are not done well, they might make us confused or have a wrong opinion.

Remember, just because two things seem related, it doesn’t mean one causes the other.

When we translate something, we might miss important details, which can lead to misunderstandings.

Also, if a picture doesn’t show all the information, we might not fully understand what it’s trying to say.

Importance of Data Visualization

In today’s world, we have a huge amount of data. At the beginning of 2020, there were a massive 44 zettabytes of digital information, which is roughly equivalent to a trillion gigabytes. By using data analytics, individuals and businesses can extract valuable insights from this vast amount of data. This allows companies to make informed decisions by analyzing past events. Data analytics plays a crucial role in various industries such as healthcare, finance, and insurance. Visualizing data is essential for making effective decisions based on this information.

Examples of Data Visualization

When considering data visualization, it’s important to explore beyond basic bar graphs and pie charts and select the best way to present your information. While these standard graphs are useful, there are numerous other creative and efficient methods for displaying data. The decision of which visualization technique to use depends on the nature of your data and the message you wish to convey.

When deciding how to visualize your data, assess its complexity and the number of variables involved. Various visualization techniques are suited to different levels of complexity, so it’s crucial to choose wisely.

Here are some common types of visual representations:

Charts: These things display information using two lines, such as pictures, maps, or drawings.
Tables: Information is made easy to compare by arranging numbers in columns and rows.
Geospatial: This technique uses different shapes and colors on a map to display information. It helps us understand how different locations are connected to specific data points.
Infographics: Infographics are tools that combine words and pictures to present information in a visually appealing way.
Graphs: These graphs show how things are connected using points, lines, curves, or areas on a grid with two perpendicular lines.
Dashboards: These tools provide a handy way to display data in pictures and examine it effectively.

As you learn and develop, you’ll find various ways to present information that suit your data and requirements. It’s crucial to choose the best method to visualize your data and communicate your message effectively.

Top 3 Data Visualization Tools

In the digital age we live in, there are plenty of online tools available to help you create great visual designs that both look appealing and provide valuable information. However, selecting the perfect tool can be daunting as you must consider the type of visualization you want to create and your comfort level with technology.

To streamline your search, we have identified three popular tools that can serve as a starting point:

Tableau: Tableau is a tool that makes data easy to understand. It’s user-friendly and doesn’t require coding skills. Tableau is great at handling large amounts of data efficiently.
D3.js: D3.js is a neat tool for showing data with JavaScript. It offers many options to create cool and custom visualizations. However, it’s important to understand that using D3.js effectively requires some coding skills.
Platy: If you can code, you can use Platy, a free software built with Python, to create your own visuals. Platy lets you personalize your visuals to suit your needs.

It’s important to know that data visualization and analysis tools come in different types. Some are easy to use, while others are more complex. Not all tools will be right for you or suit your needs. Remember, understanding visualization concepts and improving your skills is more important than the specific tool or online product you choose.

Data Visualization: Best Practices

Data visualization is a method of displaying information in a simple and understandable manner. The main purpose is to help users gain useful insights. By making powerful visual aids, we can accomplish this goal effectively.

Here are some key points to remember for now.

Clear purpose

It’s crucial to make sure that data visualizations are clear and effective, just like any data analysis. How do you decide which data to display in a way that is easy to understand? And what message do you want the audience to take away from the visualizations? By establishing a clear goal from the beginning, you can ensure that the audience receives useful information that can guide their actions.

Audience

When you’re figuring out how to present information, it’s crucial to consider what your audience already knows. The main aim of data visualization is to assist people in grasping and gaining insights from the information. To ensure that people comprehend and remain engaged, it’s essential to provide sufficient context for them to make sense of what they’re viewing. Additionally, it’s important to use visuals that appeal to and captivate the specific audience. Throughout the data display process, it’s vital to always keep in mind who will be viewing it.

Simple is best

When creating visualizations, it’s crucial to keep the design simple and highlight key information. This involves removing any unnecessary elements. Simplifying the visualizations helps in making the insights clear and understandable. The aim is to present the information in a way that is easy for viewers to comprehend without feeling confused or burdened.

Inclusive visualizations

It is crucial to make visualizations easy to access and inclusive for all users. This means paying attention to details like colors, contrasts, font sizes, and spacing to ensure that the visualizations are clear and easy to understand. Whether users have good vision or difficulty seeing, it is important that everyone can interpret the data and information presented.

Conclusion

Based on the article about data visualization, it is clear that using visual tools to represent data can help us understand complex information more easily. By creating graphs, charts, and diagrams, we can see patterns and trends that might not be obvious from looking at raw numbers. This can be especially helpful in making decisions and presenting information to others. Overall, data visualization is a valuable tool that can enhance our understanding of data and improve communication.

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