Chapter 6. Showing Complex Data:Trees, Tables, and Other Information Graphics

Chapter 6. Showing Complex Data:
Trees, Tables, and Other Information Graphics

Information graphicsincluding maps, tables, and graphscommunicate knowledge visually rather than verbally. When done well, they let people use their eyes and minds to draw their own conclusions; they show, rather than tell.

These graphics are my favorite kinds of interfaces. However, poor tools or inadequate design can sharply limit what you can do with them, and many information-rich interfaces just don't quite work as well as they could.

The patterns in this chapter will help you make the best of the tools you have, and introduce you to some useful and interesting innovations in visualization design. The ideas described in this introduction can help you sort out which design aspects are most important to you in a given interface.