Comments on: Pictures that hurt http://pathfindersoftware.com/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/ The Fastest Way to Launch Successful Software Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:36:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sholom Sandalow http://pathfindersoftware.com/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6780 Sholom Sandalow Sat, 21 Jul 2007 06:33:26 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6780 <p>Google uses sparklines in their web analytics tool, and Yahoo uses it in their financial pages. Although both with flaws. In Google's case (google.com/analytics) the data being displayed would actually be more easily scanned and processed with a bar chart.<br /> In Yahoo's case (finance.yahoo.com)--and I see this in just about every financial site--the baseline (y=0) isn't included, instead, the bottom edge of the chart represents the security's low point for the interval represented on the x axis, and so the stock price looks much more volatile than it actually is. </p> Google uses sparklines in their web analytics tool, and Yahoo uses it in their financial pages. Although both with flaws. In Google’s case (google.com/analytics) the data being displayed would actually be more easily scanned and processed with a bar chart.
In Yahoo’s case (finance.yahoo.com)–and I see this in just about every financial site–the baseline (y=0) isn’t included, instead, the bottom edge of the chart represents the security’s low point for the interval represented on the x axis, and so the stock price looks much more volatile than it actually is.

]]> By: Gary http://pathfindersoftware.com/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6779 Gary Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:55:00 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6779 <p>Edward Tufte's "sparklines" are a great example of how a lot of information can be crammed into a small space without compromising clarity:</p> <p><a href="http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001OR" rel="nofollow">http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001OR</a><br /> </p> Edward Tufte’s “sparklines” are a great example of how a lot of information can be crammed into a small space without compromising clarity:

http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0001OR

]]> By: M Easter http://pathfindersoftware.com/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6778 M Easter Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:16:56 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6778 <p>On a somewhat related note, I saw a panel of neurologists on TV recently who cited a study that showed that people believe they understand something to a greater degree when they see an image.</p> <p>This is actually dangerous in science, as it can lend credence to an idea that isn't necessarily true.</p> On a somewhat related note, I saw a panel of neurologists on TV recently who cited a study that showed that people believe they understand something to a greater degree when they see an image.

This is actually dangerous in science, as it can lend credence to an idea that isn’t necessarily true.

]]> By: Kit http://pathfindersoftware.com/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6777 Kit Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:45:56 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6777 <p>Here in the UK, there is <a href="http://www.metcheck.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.metcheck.com</a> who have obviously thought quite hard about their icons (type eg 'London' into the location field on the front page and press Enter to see examples). They don't always get it right but they seem to have a greater variety to draw on than most sites IMO.</p> Here in the UK, there is http://www.metcheck.com who have obviously thought quite hard about their icons (type eg ‘London’ into the location field on the front page and press Enter to see examples). They don’t always get it right but they seem to have a greater variety to draw on than most sites IMO.

]]> By: bloid http://pathfindersoftware.com/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6776 bloid Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:55:31 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/2007/07/a-picture-is-wo/#comment-6776 <p>It is a really hard balancing act to get the right amount of data shown to the user without oversimplifying it into uselessness...</p> <p>It's almost like signal theory where you get aliasing and harmonics if you simplify or sample it at the wrong points...</p> <p>Heh, and think yourself lucky! I've got rain coming out of the sun today (not sure what that means... The last time I saw that was on the Flash Gordon movie I think), with thunder tomorrow... Think it's a good weekend for staying in ;)</p> It is a really hard balancing act to get the right amount of data shown to the user without oversimplifying it into uselessness…

It’s almost like signal theory where you get aliasing and harmonics if you simplify or sample it at the wrong points…

Heh, and think yourself lucky! I’ve got rain coming out of the sun today (not sure what that means… The last time I saw that was on the Flash Gordon movie I think), with thunder tomorrow… Think it’s a good weekend for staying in ;)

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