This course examines the art, science, and practice of information visualization. Particular emphasis is placed on the ways in which position, shape, size, brightness, color, orientation, texture, and motion influence perception of information and facilitate comprehension and analysis of large and complex bodies of information. Topics include cognition and visual perception; the aesthetics of visual media; techniques for processing and manipulating information for the purpose of visualization; studies of spatial, relational, multivariate, time-series, interactive, and other visual approaches; and methods for evaluating information visualizations.

Information Visualization Course Flyer (Fall 2012)

Information Visualization Syllabus (Fall 2012)

Assignments

• Participation (5%)
• Unit exercises (4 x 15%)
• Final project (35%)

Topics

Foundations of Information Visualization
1. Introduction
2. History and Theory of Information Visualization
3. Perception and Visual Processing

Visualization 1: Temporal & Statistical
4. Time-Series Representations
5. Statistical Data & Visualizations (Tableau Lab)
6. Statistical Representations 1: Part-Whole, Deviation, Distribution
7. Statistical Representations 2: Correlation, Multivariate

Visualization 2: Geospatial
8. Mapping and Countermapping
9. GIS Data & Visualizations (QGIS Lab)

Visualization 3: Relational
10. Relational Representations: Hierarchies & Networks
11. Relational Data & Network Analysis (Gephi Lab)

Visualization 4: Interactive
12. Interactive Representations

Further Topics in Information Visualization
13. Advanced Data Techniques
14. Empirical Evaluation of Visualizations