The Visual Representation of Data

Everything we do is built up of data, from the websites we browse to the services we use, to the movies to watch. It’s easy to see how all that information can stack up and become so huge that processing it becomes a daunting task. After all, just one person on average uses around 3 GB of data per month, every single month with this data containing critical information that could help developers provide better and more secure services.

What Visualization Means for Data

When dealing with complex amounts of data, it is of vital importance to make sure it’s presented in a form that’s understandable to viewers. Data comes in all shapes and forms, and frequently comes in sizes too large to be comprehended, and as a result, several techniques are typically implemented to organize and present this information. 

There are a variety of data visualization tools that work to make meaning of different kinds of data. This may include graphical representations like diagrams to track figures,  visualize developments, or present infographics to illustrate intricate info in the form of visual details.  By using these visualization tools, users are able to see precisely what vast quantities of data show them, can they monitor past performances, and they can predict future trends.

How Are these Data Sets Represented

These visualizations can be presented in forms like graphs and diagrams, often with unique designs that directly communicate at a glance what a piece of data is supposed to represent. For example, say you have a set of data that represents the number of times a piece of software is used in a household, along with time frames of how long they use it. These data sets could be represented and visualized via an ascending bar graph that represents each data point as a different line. With the data laid out this way, it’s easy to tell how much of that software is used over a specific timeframe. Data visualization works because even the most complex information can be distilled in a way that the average person can understand. Some data visualization tools include motion graphics, color coordination, and annotations in order to communicate meaning further. 

Among the benefits of data visualization are the fact that they allow for a viewer to track changes and easily predict how the trends will go, which is an important tool for businesses who need to make adjustments and see how their products and services are resonating with consumers. By understanding the relationship between sets of data, they are able to pivot to the more successful aspects of their business while cutting costs in areas that aren’t showing signs of growth. With all their critical information presented in an easy to understand manner, they are able to find points of concern easily, make critical decisions with data backing them up, and can tell at a glance where changes occur. 

Comprehending vast quantities of data is often no easy task, but with these techniques and solutions, businesses and even everyday users are able to learn what their data means and understand exactly what it is trying to tell them.