FROM DATA TO KNOWLEDGE

visualizations as transformation processes

within the dik continuum

Luca Masud
Francesca Valsecchi
Paolo Ciuccarelli
Donato Ricci
Giorgio Caviglia

densitydesign.org
huge amount of data and information
not always manageable and accessible
from
overload
to
richness
different cultural backgrounds
contrasting visions
chaotic state
 visualization information
art visualization
design
knowledge
information visualization
art

physics economy

statistics
casual hci architecture
information social
visualization sciences information
aesthetic
medicine

management

data
visualization
scientific
art visualization ambient
chemistry visualization
infographics
need of a simpler and shared system to create a
collaborative environment within disciplines
how?
adopting an integrated perspective on data, information and knowledge
data – information – knowledge – (wisdom) hierarchy

WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE

INFORMATION

DATA

ACKOFF

Ackoff (1989)
data

Recordings or perception of evidence.

Product of observation.
It has no meaning by itself.

Ackoff (1989), Bellinger et al. (2004), Zins (2007)

INFORMATION

Data that has been given meaning by way of relational connection.

Does not have to be useful (for the user).

Ackoff (1989), Bellinger et al. (2004), Zins (2007)

KNOWLEDGE

Interiorization of useful information.

Ackoff (1989), Bellinger et al. (2004), Zins (2007)

three TYPES of knowledge

declarative (know-what)

procedural (know-how)

conditional (know-why)

Peirce (2003)
 dik from hierarchy to continuum

data information knowledge

Choo (1996), Bellinger et al. (2004)

Visualizations as
transformation processes
within the d i k continuum
 gathering

data
information
knowledge
 gathering visualizing

data
information vis
knowledge

information
 gathering visualizing creating

data
information vis knowledge
knowledge

information
 producers consumer
design process (controllable) user fruition (not controllable)

gathering visualizing creating

data
information vis knowledge
knowledge

information
observations
observations

Visualizing means ordering and creating relation within data.

The artifact is always information.

Every visualization objective is generating knowledge.

Three main visualization functions.

From
disciplines
to
typologies
Analytical visualizations
to analyse data

comMunicative visualizations
to communicate information

formative visualizations
to transfer knowledge
 gathering visualizing creating

analytical
data vis knowledge
declarative

communi-
data / information cative knowledge
vis
FORMATIVE declarative &
VIS procedural

formative
knowledge vis knowledge
procedural &
conditional

information
every typology has different

languages
use contexts
targets
analytical visualizations
large use of standard techniques
optimization of precise data reading (high data reversibility)
large use of standard techniques
optimization of precise data reading (high data reversibility)
target

analysts, economists, managers, physicists, chemists, medicals …

information consumers & presenters, informal data analysts,

sophisticated data analysts (Few 2007)

communicative visualizations
storytelling, metaphors, illustrations
sense-making
sensibilization
target

general user, non-expert, low level of visualization literacy

formative visualizations
storytelling, metaphors, illustrations
process and context communication
target

managers, organization’s employees

IN BRIEF
 analytical

gathering languages visualizing target creating

data vis knowledge

declarative

information

standard techniques analysts,

high data reversebility economists,
statisticians,
medicals,
physics,
etc.
 comMunicative

gathering languages visualizing target creating

data vis knowledge

information declarative
procedural

information

metaphors, illustrations, general target

storytelling
 formative

gathering languages visualizing target creating

knowledge vis knowledge application

procedural
conditional

information

metaphors, illustrations, managers,

storytelling employees
Different functions means different languages and techniques.
Different solutions suitable for different contexts and targets.
 conclusions

1 Systemic approach with the introduction of the dik continuum.

 conclusions

1 Systemic approach with the introduction of the dik continuum.

2 Visualizations as transformation processes within the dik continuum.
 conclusions

1 Systemic approach with the introduction of the dik continuum.

2 Visualizations as transformation processes within the dik continuum.
3 Reasoning by aims, contexts, targets.
 conclusions

1 Systemic approach with the introduction of the dik continuum.

2 Visualizations as transformation processes within the dik continuum.
3 Reasoning by aims, contexts, targets.
4 Visualization tripartition: analytical, communicative, formative.
future work

Deeper study on targets and contexts.

Taxonomical development of visualization techniques and languages.