Yvonne M. Hansen – Visualization for Thinking, Planning, and Problem Solving
Simple, graphic shapes, the building blocks of a graphical language, plan in instrumental
role in cognition, visual thinking, and communication of complex, dynamically changing
realities.
Information comes from 3 sources

External – the observable world; what is seen and perceived; printed texts, verbal
accounts, media presentations, etc.

Internal – one’s own images, ideas, visualizations, and perceptions

Combination – external and internal sources informing the understandings and
perceptions that create new combinations of knowledge
Words

most common form of communication

do not occur simultaneously in the mind (“I can’t find the right words”)

may be too abstract to represent symbolic representations that form ideas

are often ambiguous (“Stud tires out”)

impede understanding because they unable to deal with information overload

have difficulty accurately identifying chaos, disorder, and randomness
Graphics as language

exist in many forms, such as travel signage, organizations and disciplines

begin at a developmental stage in life

can represent concepts and ideas in a way that brings order to randomness and
disorder (visual means of organizing relationships, and what those relationships
represent)

may be able to communicate complex matters in a way that would otherwise take vast
amounts of words

may be able to “free” the mind otherwise constrained to the narrowness of words,
labels, and classification systems

using graphics along with words allows the user to see relationships and structure
among data that are obscured in a text-only situation (identify patterns and
irregularities more easily)
The Graphic Tools

Circle, Square, Triangle, Line, Point, Fuzzy, and Combination

Based on many Gestalt principles such as similarity, enclosure, symmetry, etc.

normally used in combination to express and idea or concept, reveal relationships,
and capture the formation of new thoughts

multiple combinations can represent entire systems, and have proved to be effective
in collaborative work situations
Ways to represent objects range from abstract to concrete.
Most abstract: Verbal Symbols

definitions, descriptions, labels
Less abstract (More concrete): Graphic Symbols

image related graphics, concept related graphics, arbitrary graphics
Most concrete: Pictorial Symbols

3D models, sculptures, reliefs, photographs, illustrations, drawings
Animation
Useful for showing process
Useful for emphasizing aspects of a graphical representation (directing the audience’s
attention)
Comprehension by re-creation

complex movements

complex environments
Provides the opportunity for multiple P.O.V.
Simulations and Interactive Experiences

real-world activity without costs of real-world consequences

practice to acquire knowledge and skills

engages the audience, attunes them to the information being presented

allows natural clustering of information, improving comprehension of ideas