1. Data Visualization Software for non-experts
Victoria Meldrum, Ball State CBER
AUBER 2016

2. Objectives We want… Visual data – recognize & understand data trends
Choice of tables, graphs, charts, maps
Basic control over appearance
Automation or batch controls for large data sets
Also want…
Responsive design (desktop, tablet, phone)
Interactive – movement? User customization?

3. Concerns Centers have limited resources
Some software too basic – limited controls, painstaking in bulk
Some software too advanced – require programming knowledge
Technology constantly changing
Let’s take a look at some practical options…

4. Visualize Free (Inetsoft)
Free
Upload spreadsheet, drag & drop to choose chart type & appearance
Maps (county-level?)
Projects appear in public gallery
Maybe outdated?
Office in USA

5. Chartblocks www.chartblocks.com
Monthly subscription: Free, $8, $20, $65
Import spreadsheet or database
Chart-building wizard, customize appearance
Download, share, or embed on website
Offices in USA & UK

6. Plotly http://plot.ly Charts & graphs, 3D, dashboards
Free option: All projects are public. Upload spreadsheet, select template appearance, download as PNG or JPG
Monthly $59-$119-$165: Public or private, more upload data types, world/US map, custom appearance, vector export options
API libraries, d3.js
Offices in US & Canada

7. Datawrapper http://datawrapper.de
1 user: €29/mo; team: €129/mo; or free trial
Export as PNG (free) or as website code (subscription)
Upload data & select desired template for chart or map
Control fonts & colors
Responsive to web & mobile
Interactive (rollovers)
Used by Fortune, Vox, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Le Monde, etc
Office in Cologne, Germany

8. Tech-savvy options
Talk to your computer science department about options…
Maybe a computer science class project – initial set up
Or computer sci graduate assistantship – ongoing maintenance

9. Axiis www.axiis.org Free, open source, MIT license
Download software, API library, Google Code member
“For beginner and expert developers alike”
Requires some coding skills
Variety of charts, no maps
Appearance controls
Interactive (rollovers, zoom)
Office in USA

10. R Project www.r-project.org
EXPERT LEVEL: Talk to your math & computer departments
Free, open source
Charts, maps, appearance controls
“Integrated suite of software facilities for data manipulation, calculation, & graphical display”
Compatible with S language and C & C++ code, syntax similar to LaTeX
Multiple conferences in US and abroad

11. Google Charts https://developers.google.co m/chart/ Free, open source
Used for many sites within the Ball State CBER Data Center
Need basic coding skills, API
3 yrs backward compatibility
25+ kinds of charts
Also maps (SVG or VML format to use GeoChart)

12. Highcharts (Highsoft)
Highcharts, Highmaps, Highcharts Cloud
Cloud monthly: $15, $30, enterprise, or free (logo on graphics)
Upload spreadsheet, select template, customize, share/embed
Charts (incl. gauge dials), maps (incl. county level)

13. Tableau www.tableau.com
Tableau Public: Free, link spreadsheet, create charts & maps, share or embed graphic, graphic is interactive & updated live
Tableau Personal: $999 per user, save to your computer or network instead of a public profile
Tableau Professional: $1,999 per user, save to Tableau Server (lots of connectivity)
Tableau Institutional License: Talk to other departments within the university to see if you have or can share a subscription

14. This presentation will be available on the AUBER website vrmeldrum@bsu
This presentation will be available on the AUBER website
Victoria Meldrum, Ball State CBER
AUBER 2016