Visual analytics
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Visual analytics
A clear overview in the data jungle
The Internet, corporate networks, sensors, simulations and electronic processes deliver endless information. But how can really important data be filtered out of these masses? And how can they be presented best for the user to analyze?
Help is provided by ‘visual analytics’. This new discipline combines automatic data analysis with novel visualization techniques, thus making the best possible use of the different abilities of man and computer. The computer’s task is to sequentially process large volumes of data and convert them into a visual form of representation that people can perceive and understand. The user can then focus on recognizing patterns, and evaluating and analyzing the observed data. This makes it easier to make the right decisions quickly.
Recognizing what would otherwise remain hidden
Visualizations of this type are of particular interest to financial service providers, for example. The data they have to deal with are usually so substantial and varied that it is impossible to carry out conclusive analyses in a short space of time. Visual representations help to make things clearer. If an evaluation of corporate shareholder structures, for example, is presented on the screen in an intuitively comprehensible form instead of in dry numerical tables, the analyst can quickly and accurately draw conclusions from it.
Visual analytics can be used for any tasks in which people need to make decisions based on complex and dynamic data. It can help to optimize logistical processes or to maintain a clear overview in the event of a disaster. Visual representations can facilitate the analysis of distribution patterns of uncommon diseases, spotlight any irregularities in the use of credit cards, and identify patterns in customers’ behavior.
Set Bookmark