Homework 4: Information Visualization

Due Thursday, February 13

Visualization is an important tool in information design.  Based on your group project requirements analysis, find a candidate visualization that you think might be used to support the activity design and information design your group is currently thinking about. For example, you might find an advanced graphic chat with curvilinear thread displays. You do not need to get your entire group to agree with your choice. In fact, I want you to identify a candidate visualization on your own. The intent of this assignment is for each person to work  individually. When we meet in class on February 13, you will have time to share you ideas with other group members and present your candidate visualization.

You are free to use any visualization you want, but it would be useful for grading purposes for you to pick something you can capture and embed in your homework paper (please also identify the original source/location of any images you capture - for example, the URL).

Explain why and how you think that this visualization technique can help address your particular project requirements and support your activity and information design. A good way to organize this would be to list the specific points you want to make about the visualization, and then use these a section headings for you homework paper, with each section explaining how the visualization addresses that specific requirement or supports that specific design goal.

What to turn in:

  • Your paper should consist of an image and/or text description of the visualization you found, followed by your explanation of how the visualization technique can help address your particular project requirements and support your activity and information design.

  • Format your paper in 12-point Times or Times New Roman font, single-spaced. Write no more than two pages (including any image file you embed in the document), printed duplex (that is, hand in a single sheet of paper). Your name and your student number (SS#) should appear in the first two lines at the top-right of the first page in bold; the heading "Homework 4: Information Visualization" should appear at the top-left of page 1 in bold. 



  • © Copyright 2003 John M. Carroll
    Last Updated: January 2003