David Giard
Microsoft Technical Evangelist
blog: DavidGiard.com
tv: TechnologyAndFriends.com
twitter: @DavidGiard
Data VisualizationThe Ideas of Edward Tufte
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This presentationis dedicated to
Dave Bost
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I II III IV
x y x y x y x y
10.0 8.04 10.0 9.14 10.0 7.46 8.0 6.58
8.0 6.95 8.0 8.14 8.0 6.77 8.0 5.76
13.0 7.58 13.0 8.74 13.0 12.74 8.0 7.71
9.0 8.81 9.0 8.77 9.0 7.11 8.0 8.84
11.0 8.33 11.0 9.26 11.0 7.81 8.0 8.47
14.0 9.96 14.0 8.10 14.0 8.84 8.0 7.04
6.0 7.24 6.0 6.13 6.0 6.08 8.0 5.25
4.0 4.26 4.0 3.10 4.0 5.39 19.0 12.50
12.0 10.84 12.0 9.13 12.0 8.15 8.0 5.59
7.0 4.82 7.0 7.26 7.0 6.42 8.0 7.91
5.0 5.68 5.0 4.74 5.0 5.72 8.0 6.89
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I
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Dr. Edward Tufte
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Graphical Excellence
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500,000
100,000
10,000
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Graphical Integrity
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Blatant Lies
Source: Fox News, Dec 2011Reprinted by Washington Post
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$(11,014)$0 $(11,014)
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Lie
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Lie Factor
𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑂𝑓 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝐼𝑛 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑐
𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑂𝑓 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝐼𝑛 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎
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Lie
Data Increase = 53%
Graphical Increase = 783%Lie Factor=14.8
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Truth
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1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
Required Fuel Economy Standards:New cars built from 1978 to 1985
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Data Change = 125%
Graphical Change = 406%Lie Factor=3.8
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Data Change = 554%
Graphical Change = 27,000%Lie Factor=48.8
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Context
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325
1955 1956
Connecticut Traffic Deaths,Before (1955) and After(1956)
Stricter Enforcement by the PoliceAgainst Cars Exceeding Speed Limit
Before stricterenforcement
After stricterenforcement
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1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Connecticut Traffic Deaths1951-1959
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1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Traffic Deaths per 100,000Persons in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York1951-1959
NY
MA
CT
RI
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Principles of Graphical Integrity
• Data Representations proportional to Data
• #Dimensions in graph = #Dimensions in data
• Real dollars, instead of deflated dollars
• Provide context
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Data-Ink
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Data-Ink Ratio
= 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝐼𝑛𝑘
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑛𝑘
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Redundant Data
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35.9
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35.9
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Metadata
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Principles
• Above all else, show the data
• Maximize the Data-Ink ratio, within reason
• Erase non-data-ink
• Erase redundant data-ink
• Revise and edit
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Vibrations
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Vibrations
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PER
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RIT
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L A
RTI
CLE
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ISSUE AREAS
INFLATION
UNEMPLOYMENT
SHORTAGES
RACE
CRIME
GOVT. POWER
CONFIDENCE
WATERGATE
COMPETENCE
Linear (RACE)
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INFL
ATI
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UN
EMP
LOYM
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SHO
RTA
GES
RA
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CR
IME
GO
VT.
PO
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CO
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WAT
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CO
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CE
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Chart Junk and Ducks
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Worst. Graph. Ever.
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Year % Students < 25
1972 28.0
1973 29.2
1974 32.8
1975 33.6
1976 33.0
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Multifunctioning Graphical Elements
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Data Density
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Data Density
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑐
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Low Data Density
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Low Data Density
Number of entries = 4
Graph Area = 26.5 square inches
Data Density = 4 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠
26.5 𝑠𝑞. 𝑖𝑛.
=.15 data entries per sq. in.
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High Data Density
181 Numbers per square inch
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High Data Density
1,000 Numbers per square inch
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Small Multiples
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Small Multiples
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Small Multiples
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Tufte’s Graphs
• Sparkline
• Slope Graph
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Sparklines
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Sparklines
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Slope Graph
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Slope Graph
Source: The Atlantic, June 30, 2012
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Takeaways
• Maintain Graphical Integrity
• Maximize Data-Ink Ratio, within reason
• Avoid Chartjunk and Ducks
• Use Multifunctioning Graphical Elements, if possible
• Keep Labels with data
• Maximize Data Density
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Temperature ( C )
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100,000
96,000
55,000
37,000
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25,00020,00012,00010,000
# Troops
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040 90145
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Distance Traveled (km)
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# Tr
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10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31 11/7 11/14 11/21 11/28 12/5
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Tem
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Ce
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Troops
Temperature
David Giard
Microsoft Technical Evangelist
blog: DavidGiard.com
tv: TechnologyAndFriends.com
twitter: @DavidGiard
@DavidGiard
@DavidGiard
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