Narrative in Data Visualization

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Narrative in Data Visualization
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Visual Information Narrative

• Information needs to be contextualized to give it
  meaning
• Process of visualizing data consists of giving it
  form and meaning through narrative
• Narrative structure spatial, and/or time
• 2D visualization Can express time through
  movement around the space of the image
• Or through sequence of images
• 3D spatial visualization Multiple point of views

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Narrative Temporal Structure

• Start Situation definition
• Event Event, transition, action, verb, etc.
• Closure Group information to make sense
• Any of the 3 may be implied
• Story normally evolves in time
• Time often represented in space (graph)

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After the Storm Simulation of a Severe Storm

• Sequence implies plot development
• Divided screen subsections imply sequence
• Shape Horizontal implies time length
• Spatial proximity object placed next to another
  signifies relationship
• Direction left-to-right, or reverse
• Scale signifies hierarchy
• Repetition Rhythmic emphasis

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After the Storm Simulation of a Severe Storm

• Original video produced from data generated by a
  simulation on a CRAY supercomputer at NCSA,
  Illinois
• The simulation models the genesis and lifetime of
  a severe storm
• Edward Tufte proposed some optimization to the
  visualization

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After the Storm Simulation of a Severe Storm

• Reduce impact of grid as it is too dominant
• Aim for just-noticeable difference
• Reduce dramatized colors (naturalize)
• Provide clear timeline (red horizontal line)
• Replace frentic time clock with mini-icons
• Clarify that vertical scale is non-proportional
• Make the storm the dominant visual element

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After the Storm Simulation of a Severe Storm
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After the Storm Color Coding Issues

• Colors based on intent of analysis tasks
• Colorbar necessary to identify quantitative data
  values
• Fewer colors that group best is better then full
  rainbow
• For best color discrimination, use a limited
  color scheme (4 to 7)

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After the Storm Simulation of a Severe Storm
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Cinematic Time Based Narrative (Gérard Genette)

• Order Temporal-order of the narrative
• Duration Timing structure of the narrative
• Frequency relationship between event and its
  retelling
• Mood Distance and perspective
• Distance Is it told in direct, indirect mode?
• Perspective point of view
• From a fixed position
• Outside the action
• Narrator knows less then the characters
• Voice What kind of narrator implied?

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In the Screen/Image Visual Narrative Tools

• Sequence implies plot development
• Divided screen subsections imply sequence
• Shape Horizontal implies time length
• Spatial proximity object placed next to another
  signifies relationship
• Direction left-to-right, or reverse
• Scale signifies hierarchy
• Repetition Rhythmic emphasis

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Invisible Shape of Things Past, Art Com, Berlin

• A spatial, temporal concept for the organization
  and navigation of film objects of a particular
  site over time
• Video Documentation
• Pdf Document

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Bibliography

• After the Storm considerations for Information
  Visualization, NCSA, U of Illinois
• Visual Explanations, Edward Tufte
• Art Com, Berlin