554 InfoVis Course Site

Exercises & Project for Information Visualization

Online

 

Class Participation – (5% of Course Grade)

  • You are expected to participate at least once in each weekly discussion related to the weekly content in a thoughtful and insightful way. You will receive feedback on your participation in the weekly class discussions at end of week 7 and the final score will be assigned at the end of week 15.

Graded Discussions – (15% of Course Grade)

  • There will be three graded discussions where you will ask to apply what you have learned in the weekly lectures.

    • Topic 1: Analyze Visualization in terms of pre-attentive visual features, grouping principles, depth cues used and application of Tufte’s design principles – Week 3.
    • Topic 2: Analyze NYTimes Visual DataStory – Week 6.
    • Topic 3: Review Emerging Theme / State-of-Art Visualization – Week 14.

Short Paper 1 – Data Journalism Handbook (7.5% of Course Grade)

Visualization 1 – Create Motion Charts using Tableau (15% of Course Grade)

  • Requirements
  • Need to create at least two Motion Charts (can be side-by-side or on two different worksheets) in Tableau.
  • Final Data Set needs to satisfy these requirements:
  • Entity dimension: country or city or ... at least 25 different entities
  • Time dimension: at least 10 years and/or 12 months. The greater the time period, the better.
  • At least three independent data dimensions that can be displayed in a scatterplot and that change over time and you believe that there can be a possible correlation between them.
  • At least one categorical data dimension.
  • At least one relevant data dimension than be used for size coding (e.g. population of a country) and this data dimension does not have to change over time, but it can.
  • In Total, at least six data variables.
  • Report:
    • Create a Google Docs document (or create Google Site or PBworks site) and describe:
      1. Why you created the data set; why you selected the data variables and how they help you address the question you want to address.
      2. Your process of finding and preparing the data;
      3. Insights you gained by interacting with the data using Motion Chart (e.g. relationships?, correlations?, trends?, outliers?) and include screenshots.
    • Upload Tableau .twbx file (File > Export Packaged Workbook) to Google Drive and add link to report
      (make sure to set permissions so that anybody with URL can access it).
  • Hand-in: URL for Report (make sure to set permissions so that anybody with URL can access it)
    in Week 5.
    (Revision is due in Week 8).

Visualization 2 – Design Dashboards using Tableau (15% of Course Grade)

  • Get Data
  • Week 4 - Data: Public Data
  • You can build on data used for Visualization 1 if the data contained enough relevant independent data variables.
    If you can assemble a new data set with vaiables related to a different topic is you like.
  • Format Data so that it can be visualized
  • How to Prepare Data for Motion Chart (9:52)
  • Preparing Excel Files for Analysis using Tableau Prep
  • Visualize Data and Create Dashboards using Tableau
  • Overview (4:05)
  • Tableau
  • Videos in Week 7 on Lectures page:  http://aspoerri.comminfo.rutgers.edu/Teaching/InfoVisOnline/Lectures.html#week7
  • Requirements
  • Need to create
  • at least three Motion Charts (can be side-by-side or on different worksheets in Tableau)
  • and at least three Bar / Line / Treemap and/or Map Charts
  • and at least two Dashboards that incorporate the created displays in an effective way
  • Visual DataStory Principles (14:33)
  • Visual DataStory Principles - Maps (3:06)
  • and makes sure the displays are linked by Highlighting:
  • http://onlinehelp.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/help.htm#actions_highlight.html
  • Final Data Set needs to satisfy these requirements:
  • Entity dimension: country or city or ... at least 25 different entities
  • Time dimension: at least 10 years and/or 12 months. The greater the time period, the better.
  • At least five independent data dimensions that can be displayed in a scatterplot and that change over time and you believe that there can be a possible correlation between them.
  • At least one categorical data dimension.
  • At least one relevant data dimension than be used for size coding (e.g. population of a country) and this data dimension does not have to change over time, but it can.
  • In Total, at least eight data variables.
  • Report:
    • Create a Google Docs document (or create Google Site or PBworks site) and describe:
      1. Why you created the data set; why you selected the data variables and how they help you address the question you want to address.
      2. Your process of finding and preparing the data;
      3. Insights you gained by interacting with the data using Dashboards (e.g. relationships, correlations, trends, outliers?) and include screenshots.
    • Upload Tableau .twbx file (File > Export Packaged Workbook) to Google Drive and add link to report
      (make sure to set permissions so that anybody with URL can access it).
  • Hand-in: URL for Report (make sure to set permissions so that anybody with URL can access it)
    in Week 8.
    (Revision is due in Week 11).

Short Paper 2 – Search Interfaces OR Machine Learning Visualizations (7.5% of Course Grade)

DataStory Paper (12.5% of Course Grade)

  • You will write a paper that describes your understanding, based on the materials covered and the topics discussed in class, how to design an effective Visual “DataStory” and provide examples.
  • You need to reflect and then postulate principles, recommendations, guidelines for what one needs to do to create an effective Visual "DataStory", based on the content and tools we covered in the course and your personal experience interacting with datavis & infovis tools.
  • The report should be at least TWO full pages and at most three pages (single-spaced, 10 pt font size, you can use bullets points).
  • In short, the goal is for you to create a concise report that summarizes YOUR suggestions for "how to" create an effective Visual "DataStory" and what are the KEY PRINCIPLES (Design, Perceptual ....) that are to be utilized and explain briefly WHY these principles help to create an effective Visual "DataStory" (when possible, include links to examples that illustrate a specific principle).
  • The goal is to combine and synthesize the papers by all students to hopefully arrive at a “DataStory Manifesto”.
  • Submit Report via the dropbox in Week 13.

Project (22.5% of Course Grade)

You can choose between several Individual Project options or a Group Project.

  • (Individual / Group) Data Story Project
  • Collect Large Data Set for specific data domain and/or Use Data APIs to access large data domain.
  • Use Visualization Tool(s), such as Tableau or D3.js, to visualize data.
  • Develop DataStory for specific data domain and presented data.
  • Timetable
  • Proposal Deadline = Week 7. Send instructor 1 page proposal.
  • Term Project Report Deadline = Week 15
  • Grading
  • Quality of actual project (60%)
  • Class presentation (20%)
  • Quality of write-up of results (20%)

Project Descriptions

  • Review & Analyze
  • What to Do
  • Specify Data Domain to be visualized.
  • Define Tasks to be supported by information visualization tools.
  • Research state-of-art approaches. Identify 3 to 5 distinct "clusters" of tools to highlight & analyze.
  • Explain which features you used to distinguish between the different "clusters."
  • Select the "best" or "most representative" tool for each "cluster."
  • Provide Analysis and apply "InfoVis Toolbox" for each selected tool.
  • Think of yourself as "information visualization tools curator" and provide your personal analysis and "point of view" of what matters.
  • Create Presentation
  • Create set of slides to showcase the 3 to 5 distinct approaches you have identified.
    Provide visual examples of the tools presented.
  • Create Report
  • 20 to 25 pages, written as a standard paper.
  • Include an appendix that lists and groups 20 to 30 relevant tools / papers
    you found into the 3 to 5 "clusters" you identified.
  • Provide an URL or clear reference for the relevant tools / papers you found.
  • Hand-in
  • Post slides and report online and submit URL via dropbox.
  • Example
  • Financial Data Visualizations by Brian Sylvester: Powerpoint | Paper
  • How to Guide
  • What to Do
  • Specify Data Domain to be visualized.
  • Describe Steps and InfoVis Tool(s) to be used to accomlish specific task(s).
  • Create Screencasts and/or Tutorial to enable others to visualize a specific data domain.
  • Create Presentation
  • Create set of slides that showcase the screencasts and/or tutorials you have created.
    Provide demonstration of working example.
  • Create Report
  • 20 to 25 pages, written as a standard paper.
  • Can consist of tutorial contents and sceenshots of screencasts.
  • Hand-in
  • Post slides and report online and submit URL via dropbox.
  • Example
  • Visualizing Data: A Tutorial by Angelo Rousos: Part 1 | Part 2
  • Usability Evaluation
  • What to Do
  • Select information visualization tool to evaluate.
  • Describe and motivate evaluation design.
  • Conduct evaluation with 3 to 5 people.
  • Each evaluation session should last 30 to 45 minutes.
  • Explain if the subjects received any training and, if yes, what it consisted of.
  • Video Record each session - you can use a digital video camera or 30 day free trial of Camtasia that let's you record the screen as well as the built-in video camera.
  • Have each subject sign the Informed Consent Form and collect Feedback & Suggestions after each session is completed.
  • Create Presentation
  • Create a set of slides that explain your usability design and your major findings.
  • Digitize TWO video clips of moments during the Usability Tests you want to share with the class.
    Insert the two video clips on two separate slides.
  • Create Report
  • 20 to 25 pages, written as a standard paper.
  • Describe major findings and suggestions.
  • Include an appendix with the signed Informed Consent forms.
  • Hand-in
  • Post slides and report online and submit URL via dropbox.
  • Example
  • TouchGraph Evaluation by Kelli Staley: Powerpoint | Report
  • Prototype
  • Resources
  • Powerpoint Tips and Presence Prototype example.
  • What to Do
  • Motivate domain choice.
  • Perform task and need analysis.
  • Describe design approach and information visualization principles used.
  • Develop prototype.
  • Have an "domain expert" use the prototype and provide feedback.
  • Create Presentation
  • Create a set of slides that describe task analysis and your design approach.
  • Include URL of prototype.
  • Report on the "domain expert" feedback.
  • Create Report
  • 20 to 25 pages, written as a standard paper.
  • Provide screenshots of prototype and explain design approach.
  • Hand-in
  • Post slides and report online and submit URL via dropbox.
  • Example
  • Visualization Prototype and Initial Skteches and Paper by Cynthia Lovett
  • (Individual / Group) Data Story Project
  • What to Do
  • Select data domain to be visualized and identify data sources to be aggregated.
  • Develop group strategy for how best to visualize data and develop DataStory.
  • Assign tasks to team members.
  • Create visualizations and DataStory.
  • Describe group approach and insights gained.
  • Create Presentation
  • Create a set of slides that capture the key elements of the developed DataStory, approach taken and insights gained.
  • Create Report
  • Create DataStory as a set of web pages with embedded visualizations and describe approach taken and insights gained.
  • Hand-in
  • Post DataStory online and submit URL via dropbox.
  • Example
  • Taylor Swift Data Visualization by Julia Ercolano
  • NYC Crime DataStory by Clarence Li
  • Visualizing 50 Years of Hit Songs by Shaun Ellis & Tom Engelhardt and its Media Coverage: Tableau Blog | DailySwarm | ChartPorn | NBC