Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Initial Data Exploration and Dataset
Preparation Using VisMiner
The Rationale for Visualizations
Studies over the past 30 years by cognitive scientists and computer graphics
researchers have found two primary benefits of visualizations:
potentially high information density
rapid extraction of content due to parallel processing of an image by the
human visual system.
Information density is usually defined as the number of values represented in
a given area. Depending on the design, the density of visualizations can be
orders of magnitude greater than textual presentations containing the same
content.
In the vocabulary of cognitive science, a key component of rapid extraction of
image content is usually referred to as preattentive processing. When an image
is presented, the viewer's brain immediately begins extracting content from the
image. In as little as 50 milliseconds it locates significant objects in the image
and begins to categorize and prioritize those objects with respect to their
importance to image comprehension. Researchers have identified a shortlist of
visual properties that are preattentively processed - those that the brain
considers to be of highest priority to which it initially directs its attention.
They include: color, position, shape, motion, orientation, highlighting via
