Comments on: Visualization as metaphor http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/ informal reflections Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:21:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: IaaC blog » Blog Archive » Form Follows Data http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-702 IaaC blog » Blog Archive » Form Follows Data Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:34:05 +0000 http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-702 [...] of Data. These diagrams are based on actual Data rather than Metaphors of Visualization (here). For example the above map ‘The World Freedom Atlas’ is a Geo visualization map for [...] [...] of Data. These diagrams are based on actual Data rather than Metaphors of Visualization (here). For example the above map ‘The World Freedom Atlas’ is a Geo visualization map for [...]

]]> By: Christian Marc Schmidt http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-654 Christian Marc Schmidt Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:34:57 +0000 http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-654 Thanks for your insightful comment, Harry. I agree with your point that over time, visualizations can reflect the objective reality of data, though they do so through use of a metaphorical container (even in language we revert to metaphor!) that colors the perception of the data, however minimal or overt it may be to the viewer. But then, of course, data itself is never unbiased either--when we create taxonomies and systems of classification to organize data, or use specific intervals of time, we are asserting a point of view. Subjectivity is always a given, and visualization is ultimately an expressive tool or medium for communicating abstract concepts. Thanks for your insightful comment, Harry. I agree with your point that over time, visualizations can reflect the objective reality of data, though they do so through use of a metaphorical container (even in language we revert to metaphor!) that colors the perception of the data, however minimal or overt it may be to the viewer. But then, of course, data itself is never unbiased either–when we create taxonomies and systems of classification to organize data, or use specific intervals of time, we are asserting a point of view. Subjectivity is always a given, and visualization is ultimately an expressive tool or medium for communicating abstract concepts.

]]> By: Harry http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-610 Harry Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:23:49 +0000 http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-610 Christian, My appologies. I stumbled onto your post while walking by and found the conversation surrounding data art/data visulization interesting. First, I am completely niave about this subject. However, it did made me think that looking at metaphore from a different perspective might be useful here. Metaphore and its critical role in human evolution using the tool of language transformed the human condition from an ancestal bicameral reality to a more conscious sentient being. Its impact continues to change us and our technologies (which includes data visualzation). Without having read any more than your conversation, I too, think data transformed into vizual media can be expressed in, and as metaphore. You can't have on without the other. The use of metaphore allows for complex thinking, abstration, and asthetic visualiztation, to continually evolve. This in turn facilitates an ever evloving human mentality, creating a cycle of continued complex thinking, abstraction, and asthetic visualizations, symbiotically. I agree that "metaphor inserts itself where data is made to correspond with any form of representation." I'm in education and view student data as a representation of student achievement. I represent it both in metaphor and by analogy, depending on its application. If represented as visual data, it's a mountain landscape- a series of peaks and valleys to be objectified, quantified, and subjectified by all concerned. Objective? No, but thar's the reality of our subjective nature. The history of atomic theory, for example, and its its subsequent "models" formed our interpretations and attempts to describe the objective nature of an atom. Objective? No. Approximate? Yes. Will successive approximations get closer to objective reality? In short, data visualization is pi 3.14.... You can never completely quantify it, only successively approximate it. Although, data visualizations connot currently be true “objective translations of the structure of a dataset," can they, in time, eventually through successive approximations reflect the true "ojective" reality of data? You are right, they must instead be metaphoric or at least analogic, but that's the beauty of it, metaphore works in human consciousness to "objectify" reality. The same can be said about data visualization. Harry No diatribe intended. I thought it would be food for thought about data visualization as an expression of metaphor and/or metaphore as data visualization. Christian,
My appologies. I stumbled onto your post while walking by and found the conversation surrounding data art/data visulization interesting. First, I am completely niave about this subject. However, it did made me think that looking at metaphore from a different perspective might be useful here. Metaphore and its critical role in human evolution using the tool of language transformed the human condition from an ancestal bicameral reality to a more conscious sentient being. Its impact continues to change us and our technologies (which includes data visualzation). Without having read any more than your conversation, I too, think data transformed into vizual media can be expressed in, and as metaphore. You can’t have on without the other. The use of metaphore allows for complex thinking, abstration, and asthetic visualiztation, to continually evolve. This in turn facilitates an ever evloving human mentality, creating a cycle of continued complex thinking, abstraction, and asthetic visualizations, symbiotically. I agree that “metaphor inserts itself where data is made to correspond with any form of representation.” I’m in education and view student data as a representation of student achievement. I represent it both in metaphor and by analogy, depending on its application. If represented as visual data, it’s a mountain landscape- a series of peaks and valleys to be objectified, quantified, and subjectified by all concerned. Objective? No, but thar’s the reality of our subjective nature. The history of atomic theory, for example, and its its subsequent “models” formed our interpretations and attempts to describe the objective nature of an atom. Objective? No. Approximate? Yes. Will successive approximations get closer to objective reality? In short, data visualization is pi 3.14…. You can never completely quantify it, only successively approximate it.

Although, data visualizations connot currently be true “objective translations of the structure of a dataset,” can they, in time, eventually through successive approximations reflect the true “ojective” reality of data? You are right, they must instead be metaphoric or at least analogic, but that’s the beauty of it, metaphore works in human consciousness to “objectify” reality. The same can be said about data visualization.

Harry

No diatribe intended. I thought it would be food for thought about data visualization as an expression of metaphor and/or metaphore as data visualization.

]]> By: Christian Marc Schmidt http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-299 Christian Marc Schmidt Wed, 30 May 2007 12:39:46 +0000 http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-299 Hi Martin Thanks for taking the time to comment and correct my assumption... I'm actually quite relieved! And, I agree with your analysis. Visualization (or the aesthetic of visualization), as Simon Patterson has shown, is an interesting metaphor in itself. I see your point that it is necessary to distinguish <em>visualization as metaphor</em> from <em>metaphor of visualization</em>. As data art or artistic data visualization is becoming more common, it is important to draw boundaries for the sake of clarity and focus, and ultimately for furthering the critique of this (relatively new) art form. Christian Hi Martin

Thanks for taking the time to comment and correct my assumption… I’m actually quite relieved! And, I agree with your analysis. Visualization (or the aesthetic of visualization), as Simon Patterson has shown, is an interesting metaphor in itself. I see your point that it is necessary to distinguish visualization as metaphor from metaphor of visualization. As data art or artistic data visualization is becoming more common, it is important to draw boundaries for the sake of clarity and focus, and ultimately for furthering the critique of this (relatively new) art form.

Christian

]]> By: Martin Wattenberg http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-295 Martin Wattenberg Wed, 30 May 2007 02:44:28 +0000 http://www.formfollowsbehavior.com/2007/05/26/visualization-as-metaphor/#comment-295 Hi Christian, I just read this blog entry. It's a wonderful essay on the role of metaphor in data visualization. Ironically, I completely agree with what you're saying! In the "Artistic Data Visualization" paper that you quote, Fernanda and I didn't mean to rule out all metaphors--as you point out, they are essential to a lot of "core" artistic data visualizations. Instead (and this was confusing) we meant that using the surface appearance of visualization wasn't enough to make something "artistic data visualization." We asked ourselves, what if someone took a visualization or diagram and erased all the labels? Or simply replaced them all? Should that fall under the category of data visualization? These aren't hypothetical questions, since Simon Patterson (whose work we love) does exactly this in "J.P. 233 in C.S.O. Blue" and "Great Bear." We decided that even though these works use the appearance or visual "metaphors" of visualization, they shouldn't be categorized as displaying data. Hope this makes sense... and thanks again for such an interesting article! --Martin Hi Christian,

I just read this blog entry. It’s a wonderful essay on the role of metaphor in data visualization. Ironically, I completely agree with what you’re saying! In the “Artistic Data Visualization” paper that you quote, Fernanda and I didn’t mean to rule out all metaphors–as you point out, they are essential to a lot of “core” artistic data visualizations. Instead (and this was confusing) we meant that using the surface appearance of visualization wasn’t enough to make something “artistic data visualization.”

We asked ourselves, what if someone took a visualization or diagram and erased all the labels? Or simply replaced them all? Should that fall under the category of data visualization? These aren’t hypothetical questions, since Simon Patterson (whose work we love) does exactly this in “J.P. 233 in C.S.O. Blue” and “Great Bear.” We decided that even though these works use the appearance or visual “metaphors” of visualization, they shouldn’t be categorized as displaying data.

Hope this makes sense… and thanks again for such an interesting article!

–Martin

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