During the seminar participants explore both foundations of human visual perception and cultural coding of data in visualizations. This is done through research and experimentation in visualization related sub-topics, the results of which will be presented as seminar lectures by the students. In addition the course will offer visiting lectures on selected key areas of visualization.

Course number: 25400
Credit points: 5
Teachers: Markku Reunanen, Samu Mielonen
Target group: First-year MA students
Lecture room: 3rd floor lecture room

Learning outcomes

The student learns about visualization and perception from diverse points of view, including art, design and science. The student develops an original visualization concept and a project plan for its visualization - ready for implementation during the spring semester. At the end of the semester students have developed a basic grasp of major themes, concepts and core vocabulary in the field of visualization.

Study mode

The course is a seminar. The method of teaching is a reading, research writing, presentations with visualization and discussion. A few theory lectures are also part of the seminar.

Assessment

Students attend at least 80% of class meetings and participate actively in the discussion. Working as pairs the students conduct research on a topic and present it at three different phases, also commenting on other groups' works. The contents of the presentations are:

1. Introduction to the theory and the concept. Description and a brief overview of the theory you've selected. The principal sources (books, articles, websites etc.). The concept: what will you visualize and why?
   
2. Theory in more detail. Fundamental concepts and terminology of the selected theory. Examples and demonstrations. Thoughts on the importance and application of the theory into visual design and visualization.
   
3. Concept in more detail. How can the theory be applied to your visualization problem? Visual material such as initial sketches and comparisons to related projects. A preliminary plan for implementation.
   

A written document and the slides are to be submitted as pdf to the students' folder on this server by the monday of the week of the presentation.

In addition, the students are required to comment on other groups' works through a rotating opponent process. Each group is assigned an opponent group for each of the three phases. Opponents read the groups research deliverables, follow the presentation and offer constructive critique on the understanding of the theory, visual examples shown and application of visualization ideas to design. The opponent group will submit their comments to the same folder before the presentation. We have c. 10 minutes for presentations per group plus 5 for discussion.

At the end of the course the students are expected to produce a written report that combines findings from each three research deliverables along and a project plan for implementing the theory into a visualization. The course will be graded based on the report, the presentations and the quality of opponent reports. Report writing instructions.

Study material

Information Visualization by Colin Ware is the textbook for the class. Pointers to other relevant material will be provided to the groups based on their topics. Risto Näsänen, Visuaalisen käytettävyyden opas.

Groups and their topics

Platoon A

Miriam Lerkenfeld & Taro Morimoto. Theory: Multidimensional visual representation. Opponents: Zhang & Markus. Theme: Visualization of refugee related data (own topic).

Leyla Nasibova & Rauno Lahti. Theory: Visual impairments. Opponents: Ben & Jonathan. Theme: Visualization of climate history (GTK).

Annukka Salo & Otto Kronstedt. Theory: Models of visual perception. Opponent: Akira. Theme: Historical and future use of energy sources (GTK).

Iris Tomaszewski & An Chao. Theory: Visual styles of maps. Opponents: Liisa & Kaisa. Theme: Climate Impacts Explorer (FMI).

Agnieszka Paszkowska & Juuso Janhunen. Theory: Space and depth perception. Opponents: Minna & Sara. Theme: Climate differences between north and south of Finland (FMI).

Platoon B

Liisa Ketola & Kaisa Tiri. Theory: Visual reasoning from statistical data. Opponents: Miriam & Taro. Theme: Salpausselkä region development (GTK).

Zhang Jiongkai & Markus Tammi. Theory: Visualizing huge amounts of data. Opponents: Annukka & Otto. Theme: Reworking Gapminder data (own topic).

Ben Dromey & Jonathan Ben-Ami. Theory: Visual attention. Opponents: Leyla & Rauno. Theme: Visualization of climate change models and uncertainty (FMI).

Minna Alaluusua & Sara Jacobsen. Theory: Representative use of color in art. Opponents: Iris & An. Theme: Geothermal energy (GTK).

Akira Sano. Theory: Light and lightness. Opponents: Agnieszka & Juuso. Theme: Visual Thesaurus (FMI).

Schedule

23rd Sep 2009 15 - 17 : Introduction, practical arrangements

30th Sep 2009 15 - 17 : Guest lecture. Tarja Peromaa: Basics of Colour and Lightness. Slides. Theme assignments.
7th Oct 2009 15 - 17 : 1st presentation, Platoon A
21st Oct 2009 15 - 17 : 1st presentation, Platoon B
28th Oct 2009 15 - 17 : Guest lecture. Vesa Kuusela: Good Statistical Graphing.
4th Nov 2009 15 - 17 :  2nd presentation, Platoon A
18th Nov 2009 15 - 17 : 2nd presentation, Platoon B
25th Nov 2009 15 - 17 : 3rd presentation, Platoon A
2nd Dec 2009 15 - 17 : 3rd presentation, Platoon B

18th Dec 2009 : Deadline for the final report (no meeting). You are allowed to submit the report earlier :)