Data Visualization For Dummies

Chapter 14

Recognizing Newbie Pitfalls

In This Chapter

Contracting data overload syndrome

Forgetting about mobile

Using confusing alert colors

Avoiding statistics

After training so many data viz newbies globally, we have concluded that the first encounter most of our students have with any type of data visualization is with Microsoft Excel. Excel remains the number-one business intelligence (BI) tool in the world from a market-share standpoint. Unfortunately, its flexibility often allows users to hoard tons of raw data to devise a single answer, and the problem becomes overly complex.

Data visualization is usually treated as an afterthought; it doesn't come into play until data has grown beyond the point where it can be reasonably distilled from spreadsheets and reports. Only then do people seek to understand how data visualizations can help them communicate their message effectively.

The transition from a pure reporting tool like Excel to a more advanced software visualization tool ...