We often hear a picture is worth a thousand words. There is a simple reason this is true. Our eyes evolved to be the best way to put information into our brains (speed and amount). The amount of information that can be absorbed through our eyes is staggering and only limited by our ability to train ourselves to use our eyes to collect information.
Conversely, if we want to convey information to other people, we should also strive to do so visually. Hence we must train ourselves to think visually so that we can then figure out how to transmit information visually to our audience.
Here is a short list of rules to help transmit information and concepts visually. Special thanks to Glenn V and Brian R for assisting me with this list yesterday.
1) A visualization is not simply a picture. A visualization must be information or a concept conveyed through sight.
2) Pictures that convey no meaning detract from the information being presented and should be eliminated.
3) The most casual observer should understand what's being presented even if they don't understand what's being presented.
4 ) Any process can be visualized...think flow chart, they are simply and easy to draw.
5) Data visualization starts with a simple graph, rarely, if ever, is it a table of data.
6) Data keys are key...never forget to use them. However, keep simplifying your key until most of the information is embedded in the graphic. Then you might have the option to eliminate the key altogether.
7) Never try to convey more information then the human brain has the capacity to remember... if it's important to be remembered.
If the concepts are new they should be in the range of 3 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd law of thermodynamics)
If the concepts are simple or familiar maybe it's 5 +/-2 (Directorates in your organization)
If the concepts are extremely familiar or can be grouped, you might get to 7 +/-2 (Football teams)
I run the risk of violating rule number 7 if I go any further. And it might already be too late...
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ReplyDeleteI think I might have to disagree with the generality of your claim (unless you consider offering someone something to read visual communication), and I wonder if some of your stated position isn't predicated on the implicit requirement in our world to communicate in briefing format. If we were to remove PowerPoint from the discussion entirely, would your claim still be true? Or consider this question. Can you construct a complex (or even simple) argument that stands on its own and relies solely on visual communication? This is not to say that elements of an argument cannot be made clearer with an appropriately explicative image, but in my world (mathematics) the (special) written language is quite powerful and while images can be useful they can also be your most dangerous enemy in terms of rigorous and complete arguments (as anyone who has searched for counterexamples in topology can tell you).
ReplyDeleteOf course, if a visualization is "information or a concept conveyed through sight" then it includes anything written as well as "pictures"...unless the words are read to you, and that may be the right distinction. Putting words on slides begs for them to be read TO you rather than BY you. So, is presenting someone with a 1-page paper describing an issue is "visual" presentation of data?
Perhaps what is needed istead of more PPT is interactive visual representations of complex data systems, so that an element of flexibility is enabled as variables change over time.
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