As a subject in computer science, information visualization is the use of interactive, sensory representations, typically visual, of abstract data to reinforce cognition.

Information visualization is a complex research area. It builds on theory in information design, computer graphics, human-computer interaction and cognitive science.

Practical application of information visualization in computer programs involves selecting, transforming and representing abstract data in a form that facilitates human interaction for exploration and understanding.

Important aspects of information visualization are the interactivity and dynamics of the visual representation. Strong techniques enables the user to modify the visualization in real-time, thus affording unparallelled perception of patterns and structural relations in the abstract data in question.

Although much work in information visualization regards to visual forms, auditory and other sensory representations are also of concern.

References

  • Bederson, Benjamin, B., Shneiderman, Ben. The Craft of Information Visualization: Readings and Refelections, Morgan Kaufmann, 2003, ISBN 1558609156.
  • Card, Stuart K., Mackinlay, Jock D., Shneiderman, Ben. Readings in Information Visualization: Using Vision to Think, Academic Press, 1999, ISBN 1-55860-533-9.
  • Spence, Robert. Information Visualization, ACM Press, 2001, ISBN 0-201-59626-1.

Related projects