Designing for an Audience - Data Points: Visualization That Means Something - page 265

probability of death the older that you get, and for those who reach more
than 120 years, the probability is near certainty.
There's an immediate connection to the data because most people are aware
of age and mortality. When you note the overall trend, you most likely looked
at your own age and gender to find the corresponding probability. Maybe
you noted the age of family members or friends. It's easy to relate to the data.
Of course, you could take it a step further, and present the data completely in
the context of the individual who looks at the graphic. Figure 6-23 is a differ-
ent angle that asks for your age before you see the overall picture and then
shows only your estimated probability of death. The graph is shown below the
individual percentage, so the same data is used and visualized the same way
(eventually), but it focuses on the individual, which makes the data personal.
FIGURE 6-22 Probability of death in a year