12 December 2011

📉Graphical Representation: Responsibility (Just the Quotes)

"The fact that index numbers attempt to measure changes of items gives rise to some knotty problems. The dispersion of a group of products increases with the passage of time, principally because some items have a long-run tendency to fall while others tend to rise. Basic changes in the demand is fundamentally responsible. The averages become less and less representative as the distance from the period increases." (Anna C Rogers, "Graphic Charts Handbook", 1961)

"The types of graphics used in operating a business fall into three main categories: diagrams, maps, and charts. Diagrams, such as organization diagrams, flow diagrams, and networks, are usually intended to graphically portray how an activity should be, or is being, accomplished, and who is responsible for that accomplishment. Maps such as route maps, location maps, and density maps, illustrate where an activity is, or should be, taking place, and what exists there. [...] Charts such as line charts, column charts, and surface charts, are normally constructed to show the businessman how much and when. Charts have the ability to graphically display the past, present, and anticipated future of an activity. They can be plotted so as to indicate the current direction that is being followed in relationship to what should be followed. They can indicate problems and potential problems, hopefully in time for constructive corrective action to be taken." (Robert D Carlsen & Donald L Vest, "Encyclopedia of Business Charts", 1977)

"Anyone who has seen, and especially used, a highly responsive interactive visualization tool will be struck by two features. First, that a mere rearrangement of how the data is displayed can lead to a surprising degree of additional insight into that data. Second, that the very property of interactivity can considerably enhance that tool's effectiveness, especially if the computer's response follows a user's action virtually immediately, say within a fraction of a second." (Robert Spence, "Information Visualization", 2001)

"Making a presentation is a moral act as well as an intellectual activity. The use of corrupt manipulations and blatant rhetorical ploys in a report or presentation - outright lying, flagwaving, personal attacks, setting up phony alternatives, misdirection, jargon-mongering, evading key issues, feigning disinterested objectivity, willful misunderstanding of other points of view - suggests that the presenter lacks both credibility and evidence. To maintain standards of quality, relevance, and integrity for evidence, consumers of presentations should insist that presenters be held intellectually and ethically responsible for what they show and tell. Thus consuming a presentation is also an intellectual and a moral activity." (Edward R Tufte, "Beautiful Evidence", 2006)

"Making an evidence presentation is a moral act as well as an intellectual activity. To maintain standards of quality, relevance, and integrity for evidence, consumers of presentations should insist that presenters be held intellectually and ethically responsible for what they show and tell. Thus consuming a presentation is also an intellectual and a moral activity." (Edward R Tufte, "Beautiful Evidence", 2006)

"Designers are responsible for the project’s fit and finish, that is, specifying the geometry and sizes of components so they properly mate with each other and are ergonomically and aesthetically acceptable within the operating environment." (Dennis K Lieu & Sheryl Sorby, "Visualization, Modeling, and Graphics for Engineering Design", 2009)

"The success of your narratives will depend on your ability to effectively perform the following tasks and responsibilities as the data storyteller: Identify a key insight. [...] Minimize or remove bias. [...] Gain adequate context. [...] Understand the audience. [...] Curate the information. [...] Assemble the story. [...] Choose the visuals. [...] Add credibility." (Brent Dykes, "Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative and Visuals", 2019)

"You no longer need to have the words 'data' or 'analyst' in your job title to be immersed in numbers and be expected to use them on a regular basis. Data is now everyone’s responsibility. In fact, the Achilles’ heel of any analyst is a lack of context - something most business users have in spades. A sharp analyst can miss something in the data that is easily spotted by the seasoned eyes of a business user, who can draw on years of domain expertise. Data doesn’t care who you are or what your analytical skill level is - it’s willing to yield up insights to whoever is diligent and curious enough to find them. Greater data access means valuable insights can be discovered by people of all backgrounds - not just technical ones." (Brent Dykes, "Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative and Visuals", 2019)

"As data communicators, it is therefore our responsibility to treat our work and our data as carefully and objectively as possible. It is also our responsibility to recognize where our data may suffer from underlying bias or error, or even implicit bias that data creators may themselves not even be aware of." (Jonathan Schwabish, "Better Data Visualizations: A guide for scholars, researchers, and wonks", 2021)

"Data visualization‘s key responsibilities and challenges include the obligation to earn your audience’s attention - do not take it for granted." (Bill Inmon et al, "Building the Data Lakehouse", 2021)

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IT Professional with more than 24 years experience in IT in the area of full life-cycle of Web/Desktop/Database Applications Development, Software Engineering, Consultancy, Data Management, Data Quality, Data Migrations, Reporting, ERP implementations & support, Team/Project/IT Management, etc.