Database Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 1
Fundamentals of
Visualization
When we talk about visualizing data, it is important to understand that any
representation of data other than simple text is visualization. The very first
visualization was a tabular representation of numbers, and tables are still
a very powerful visualization—indeed the most common. Tables, however,
are not the most appropriate visualization for every type of data—visualiza-
tions such as bar, column, and line charts; scorecards and key performance
indicators; network maps; and custom graphics drawn by an illustrator are all
visualization techniques that, when used appropriately, convey the meaning
of data better than a simple table.
This topic explores the diferent visualization types and, more importantly,
how to choose a visualization based on the data you have.
These explanations apply to any business intelligence application, but we
perform implementation examples using the Microsoft stack—starting with
Excel, the world's most widely used Business Intelligence (BI) tool and then
covering the entire toolset. We also explore the new world of custom visual-
ization techniques using HTML5.
This topic is divided into three parts: this irst part introduces you to the subject
of visualization; the second part introduces you to the tools you will use; and in
the third part, you dive deeply into the individual visualizations, learning when to
use them, which tool to use, and how to build them using the appropriate tools.
In this first chapter, you learn how to differentiate between
data visualization
and
artistic visualization
. Each has its place, but it is important when present-
ing data to focus on data presentation and not just make the visualization
presentation pretty. Typically, three-dimensional (3D) rendering is an example
of choosing form over function, but it can be done right, with form properly
serving function, and you will learn how.
