Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
of planetary orbits comes from the tenth century
(Tufte, 1983, p.28). The use of abstract pictures to
show numbers was introduced about 1750-1800.
First data maps come from 17th century, 5,000
years after first maps on clay tablets. In the 1800s
they appeared in scientific writings. Two inventors
of modern graphical design are: Johann Heinrich
Lambert (1728-1777) a Swiss-German scientist
and mathematician who, for example, extended
the existing visualizations of color mixing to three
dimensions, and William Playfair (1759-1823), a
Scottish political economist who contrasted his
new graphical method with presentation of num-
bers with tables. The first graphic showing time (a
time-series graphic), “Imports and Exports to and
from England” was printed in 1786 (Tufte, 1983,
p. 32). Étienne-Jules Marey pioneered graphical
methods in physiology. He photographed man in
black velvet in stick-figure images, explored the
movement of a starfish turning itself over, and
the advance of a gecko. Marey had also designed
a time-series study of the tracks of the horse, by
comparing an ordinary walk, long stride walk,
quick walk, amble, jog-trot, and gallop (Tufte,
1983, p. 35-36). Marey became the time-series
forerunner of Marcel Duchamp's
Nude Descend-
ing a Staircase.
Figure 3, “Nothing to Undo” ponders about
the reality of living in a networked community:
Reflection in water creates a virtual image of
reality,
That somehow shows us,
How visualizations work in a similar way.
Everything is interconnected.
So, with all apps, connectivity, and interactivity
of websites,
One has to think twice before making any change.
Figure 3. Anna Ursyn, “Nothing to Undo” (© 2010, A. Ursyn. Used with permission)
