CMSC 120: Introduction to Computing: Visualizing Information 1/22/08
Course Goals Explore the purpose and use of computing in everyday life Develop computing and programming Explore human perception (how we see) Recognize a variety of types of visualization Discriminate between good and bad visualizations
What is Computing?
What is Information? site_ndategage_htdischargechange Unknown Falling Falling Unknown Falling Falling Rising Rising Unknown Falling Rising Falling Unknown Rising Rising
What is Information? knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance knowledge gained through study, communication, research, instruction, etc.; factual data data at any stage of processing important or useful facts From knowledge data
What is Visualization? Dictionary Definition to make perceptible to the mind or imagination something not actually present to the sight Operational Definition Construction of images that represent important aspects of a situation or process Images: plot, graph, diagram, picture
Why Visualize? The human visual cortex is arguably the most powerful computing system we have access to. Visualization allows us to put information into a form which allows us to use the power of this computing system. By harnessing some of the capabilities of our visual system we can free other parts of our brains to work on problems.
Types of Visualization Types of Visualization Communication: visualization provides a quick way to communicate a very rich message. Communication: visualization provides a quick way to communicate a very rich message. Discovery: visualization provides a way of displaying a large amount of information so we can uncover new facts and relationships. Discovery: visualization provides a way of displaying a large amount of information so we can uncover new facts and relationships. Insight: visualization provides a way to obtain better insight into things we already know. Insight: visualization provides a way to obtain better insight into things we already know. Art and Aesthetics Art and Aesthetics
Communication
Data Fountain
AIDS Epidemic
Discovery
Real Time Rome (From
Earthquakes (from the TERASHAKE simulation)
Insight
Plate Tectonics
Anatomy of Sinus Cavities Kai-hung Fung 2007
Tornado
Theoretical Morphology From Raup 1966
Protein Structure N OH R H N O H R H N OH R H N O H R H N O H R H N O H R H N O H R H N O H R H Side chain H-bond Backbone Amino acid Proteins consist of a long chain of amino acids, the primary structure
Protein Structure The constituent amino acids may encourage hydrogen bonding that form regular structures, called secondary structures The secondary structures fold together to form a compact 3-dimensional shape, called the tertiary structure -helix -sheet
The Protein Universe (From
Art and Aesthetics
D. Breger, LDEO; sample courtesy of W. Pitman, W. Ryan, and C. Major.