Session 2 of the Learning Objects module -- let's think about visual explanations.

1. Visual Displays of Information and Visual Explanation By Daniel Churchill

2. THIS PRESENTATION CONTAINS AUDIO INFORMATION Make sure that you enable audio on your device – speakers or earphones

3. Your Work so far Have you started your Google Sites?Let me know the web address of your Google Site by completed the form: Your RepresentationAll group members to present their one slide introductions in the Google SitesVisit each others’ slides

5. Using RISAL Repository Risal is available at http://risal.cite.hku.hk There is excellent tutorial showing step by step instructions Register using your HKU email or you will only be able to use limited set of functions. Start building your collection.

7. Visualization Visuals can communicate complex ideas with clarity, precision, efficiency and convey the most knowledge in the shortest time in the small space. ~ Tufte (1983)

8. Hadol’s satiric map of Europe in 1870 that turns the geographic shapes of countries into robust, imaginative figures that vividly portray national characters and political attitudes (Southworth) br />

10. What this Image Tells You

11. In which direction this bus moves?

12. In which direction this bus moves?

14. (Source: http://www.macrovu.com/VLBkExmplPgsMenu.html) Source: http://www.macrovu.com/VLBkExmplPgsMenu.html

15. Concept of Multimodality Using variety of modes (visual, text, audio, video, transition) to communicate information Modes supplement, not replace, each other All modes work hand-in-hand to communicate information in mode powerful way.

16. Key Points from Tufte, 1983 Well designed graphics are far more effective than words Human eye can make remarkable number of distinctions within a small area – graphics can place millions of bits of information on a single page before human eyes Presents text and numbers as visual ideas rather than parades of words and numbers Visuals are instruments that help people to reason about information

17. Key Points from Tufte, 1990 Principles of information design are universals – like mathematics – and are not tied to unique features of a particular culture. The world is complex, dynamic, multidimensional, the paper is static, flat – envisioning information is escape from it. Envision of information works at intersection of images, words, numbers, art. It is not how much information is there but rather how effectively it is arranged Confusion is failure of design not attribute of information.

18. Key Points from Lester (2000) Pictures invented to communicate complex thoughts. With invention of print words become more important that pictures Produce powerful pictures so that viewers can remember their content Analyzing images makes you take long careful look. First image becomes part of your general knowledge. The more you know the more you see Deconstructing Visual Information by questioning who the visualization was made for, by whom, why, and based on which data. Individuals do not have good visual literacy: Reading and writing became curriculum requirements, but visual literacy wasn’t considered a necessary component of individual’s education

19. Types of Visuals Photorealistic Images Paintings and drawings Caricatures, cartoons, abstract art, etc Maps of territories (real and abstract) Symbols and icons Diagrams and charts Mindmaps 3-dimensionas Here are some resources to explore: http://www.graphic.org/goindex.htmlhttp://www.idiagram.com/

20. Task 1 What makes effective visual display? Your task is to examine five visual display of same information. Select one that you think is the best. Prepare to justify your selection by developing arguments for effectiveness of that visual.

21. Task 1 http://www.albertocairo.com/jomc/projects/jason1.html http://www.albertocairo.com/jomc/projects/vu1.html http://www.albertocairo.com/jomc/projects/lindsay1.html http://www.albertocairo.com/jomc/projects/mike1.html http://www.albertocairo.com/jomc/projects/mariel1.html

22. Key Question Size? Color? Location? Movement? Feeding? Life Photo? Multimodalities What makes an image effective for communication?

23. Some Visual Stuff Kids do it in classrooms...

37. Visual and Interactive Elements Hot-spots Buttons Hyper-links Sliders Haptic Input Pull-down Lists Text-inputs Key-press Check-boxes Radio-buttons COLOUR

38. http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2002/graficos/jul/s4/calamar.html Some more work from Alberto Cairo: http://www.albertocairo.com/book/book.html

39. Technology Tools PowerPoint is one of most used tool for development of visuals for teachers Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks are excellent professional tools If you want something free, try:http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/ You can also try FotoFx free software from:http://www.fxfoto.com/ For 3-dimensional graphics, 3D Studio Max and Swift 3d or PixAround for QTVR This days we are moving towards Cloud Computing

40. Task 2 Information about this task is here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CVRuoaVXyAmZF0j2yHXGeEv8BZRKhYotJFwNaS9uPyk/edit?hl=en&authkey=CKa49vQD You need to present your competed tasks in your Google Sites and then engage in commenting to completed tasks of other class members.

41. Some Readings (If you have time) Recommended Reading – interesting as it opens some important areas for discussion Polemics of Visual Thinkinghttp://pages.slc.edu/~ebj/minds/student_pages/adrian/index.html Tufte, E. R. (1983). The visual display of quantitative information. Cheshire, Connecticut: Graphics Press. Tufte, E. R. (1990). Envisioning information. Cheshire, Connecticut: Graphics Press. Lester, P. M. (2000). Visual communication. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning. Suggested reading for your interest in case that you want to explore more about semiotics Semiotics for Beginnershttp://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/semiotic.html