Visualization Analysis and Design

Chapter 2

What: Data Abstraction

2.1 The Big Picture

Figure 2.1 shows the abstract types of what can be visualized. The four basic dataset types are tables, networks, fields, and geometry; other possible collections of items include clusters, sets, and lists. These datasets are made up of different combinations of the five data types: items, attributes, links, positions, and grids. For any of these dataset types, the full dataset could be available immediately in the form of a static file, or it might be dynamic data processed gradually in the form of a stream. The type of an attribute can be categorical or ordered, with a further split into ordinal and quantitative. The ordering direction of attributes can be sequential, diverging, or cyclic. ...