Why Data Visualization is a Necessary Tool of the Future
It’s no secret that we live in a data driven world: a world where technology has allowed us to get to the point where, according to IBM, more than 90% of the world’s data was created in the last two years alone. It is a phenomenon that has led to the emergence of data science and data scientists, the increased need for statisticians, and experts in informational design such as Edward Tufte, fellow of the American Statistical Organization.
The problem is that the massive amount of data that we generate is difficult to keep up with, access, comprehend, and thus effectively use to our benefit.
The Purpose of Data Visualization
Emerging heavily as a result within the last few years are data visualization tools, designed to help us work more effectively with data.
Most of us interpret and understand information best visually and thus information visualization is often key to true comprehension. Data visualization is, as its name suggests, a visual representation of data, its main benefits being in making complex data more accessible, interpretable, and presentable. It is closely related to the fields of information visualization, information graphics, scientific visualization, and statistical graphics.
David McCandless, London based author, data journalist, information designer, and founder of the website Information is Beautiful acknowledges that, in an age where we are often plagued by “information overload,” in addition to looking really cool, visualizing information allows us to see patterns and connections that matter and thus design information to make more sense, to focus only on the information that’s important, and to tell stories.
Challenges and Limitations of Data Visualization Tools
The challenge in not only recognizing the value in big data, but in actually making use of it, lies in the ability to effectively understand it.
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