The Power of Data Visualization
3 mins read
Converting data into visuals has been a part of humanity since
early days. Cavemen scrawled their stories on walls of caves
and hunts. The earliest data table known to man was created in
the 2nd century. The table involved astrological information
to help with navigation. Understanding data arrangement was
easier because of its visual structure. Fast-forward to a few
years ahead. The Cartesian coordinate system – the X and Y
axis graph, was the well-known format of data visualization.
Rene Descartes created this is the 17th century.
To better comprehend data, the education system introduced
Venn diagrams, pie charts, graphs, and line drawings. Academic
courses on graphing data came into being in 1913 at Iowa State
University in the U.S. This formally elevated data
visualization to a science. In 1977, Princeton University took
an even bigger leap. Most importantly, their concept of
exploratory data analysis and forever changed our interaction
with data sets.
Today we’re dealing with big data. It’s expected that only 6%
of all data comes from books and printed materials. The other
94% is digital. A massive
90% of
all data
has been created and stored digitally within just the past 3
years. Additionally, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is
generated daily. In short, this just adds to the amount of
data we have available to us. Data visualization essentially
takes raw data and shapes it to tell a visual story. Most
importantly, it offers actionable insights to aid business
decisions.
Need for visual?
“Every single pixel should testify directly to the content.”
Edward Tufte, Statistician, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Statistics, and Computer Science – Yale University
Will you be able to interpret tons of data easily if it was just put into rows and columns? Data visualization ensures you have your audience’s attention. Above all, it allows you to do so by relying on human beings’ natural affinity for certain cues. Besides, today we receive five times as much information as we did in 1986. That’s an astonishing leap and a lot for anyone to grasp. Consequently, there’s an even greater need to understand this data.
The Advantage
Visual trends help plan for the future and utilize less
time and energy for data analysis. The big picture leaps
right out at you. It uncover patterns, trends, subtle
correlations and relationships between various elements of
the business. 28% of managers that use visual data
discovery tools are more likely to find relevant
information than their counterparts who rely only on
managed dashboards and reporting, says an Aberdeen Group
survey.
Data visualizations have empowered the average person to
access data insights without having to rely on data
scientists. Your finance or marketing teams can pursue
goals swiftly and in an informed manner. You can also
share status updates, and more with clients and other
teams. This is because data visualization is not only easy
to disseminate but is much more responsive than a
spreadsheet.
You can discover the outliers in your data and eliminate
them to ensure they do not skew the results with graphics.
And if you’re preparing for a big presentation and need to
retain a lot of data, visuals help highlight the important
parts.
Where is this all heading?
The vast amount of data out there is only going to
continue to increase. And it brings with it plenty of
opportunities. As the world becomes more interconnected,
the need for data visualization will also grow.
Technology will enhance our data visualization
capabilities. For instance, the vast majority of today’s
data visualizations are 2D. But this is evolving with the
creative use of color and size, and a combination of
space, time, and advanced computer graphics.
Neuroscientists Emmanuelle Tognoli and Scott Kelso created
a 5D model, the 5D colorimetric technique. This technique
illustrates a dynamic and comprehensive view of brain
activity.
Data visualization will improve the interaction between
humans, machines, and the environment. Our visuals will
grow more complex. So will data. But our understanding
will get better with information that is simple to
comprehend. Applications will evolve. However, the future
of data visualization is expansive and bright. What your
business chooses to do with it will determine your level
of success.
At Netlink, we understand the need to harness the power of
data. Hence, we created Lumenore. Your own platform for
simple data visualizations.
About Lumenore
Lumenore is a next-gen business intelligence & analytics platform designed for B2C companies to improve customer interaction, experience and revenue. Blended with integration and customization services, the platform delivers all you need to make informed business decisions. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, and Robotic Processor Automation, Lumenore utilizes a common dataset to feed its powerful platform to visualize, analyze, actionize, as well as monetize business operations.
Talk to us today to learn more about Lumenore! Schedule a demo
About the Author
Content Creator @ Lumenore
Published: October 1, 2022
