Diagrams

The graphic portrayal of quantitative information has deep roots. These roots reach into histories of thematic cartography, statistical graphics, and data visualization, which are intertwined with each other. They also connect with the rise of statistical thinking up through the 19th century, and developments in technology into the 20th century.

The earliest seeds arose in geometric diagrams and in the making of maps to aid in navigation and exploration. By the 16th century, techniques and instruments for precise observation and measurement of physical quantities were well-developed- the beginnings of the husbandry of visualization. The 17th century saw great new growth in theory and the dawn of practice- the rise of analytic geometry, theories of errors of measurement, the birth of probability theory, and the beginnings of demographic statistics and "political arithmetic''. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, numbers pertaining to people-social, moral, medical, and economic statistics began to be gathered in large and periodic series; moreover, the usefulness of these bodies of data for planning, for governmental response, and as a subject worth of study in its own right, began to be recognized.

The very first known information 'plot' dates back to the 10-th century (first known graph). This was about the same time that Guido of Arezzo was developing the two-dimensional musical staff notation very similar to the one we use today. In the 15-th century Nicolas of Cusa developed graphs of distance versus speed. In the 17th century Rene Descartes established analytic geometry which was used only for the display of mathematical functions. But the main initiator for informative graphics was William Playfair (1759-1823) who developed the line, bar, and pie charts as we know them today.

Important rules and themes to use when presenting graphics:

• Assume that the audience is intelligent (a paraphrase from E.B. White). Even publications, such as NY Times, assume that people are intelligent enough to read complex prose, but too stupid to read complex graphics.
• Don't limit people by "dumbing" the data -- allow people to use their abilities to get the most out of it.
• To clarify -- add detail (don't omit important detail; e.g., serif fonts are more "detailed" than san serif fonts but are actually easier to read). And Einstein once said that "an explanation should be as simple as possible, but no simpler".
• Above all else, show the data. Graphics is "intelligence made visible"
• Data rich plots can show huge amounts of information from many different perspectives: cause & effect, relationships, parallels, etc. (train schedule, Chloroplethic map, Napoleon's campaign, space junk)
• Plots need annotation to show data, data limitations, authentication, and exceptions ( text of exceptions)
• Don't use graphics to decorate a few numbers

1600-1699

The 17th century saw the rise of analytic geometry, theories of errors of measurement, the birth of probability theory, and the beginnings of demographic statistics and "political arithmetic''. By the end of this century, the necessary elements were at hand -- some real data of significant interes; some theory to make sense of them, and a few ideas for their visual representation.

Michael van Langren's 1644 depiction of 12 determinations of the longitude from Toledo to Rome: most likely the first visual representation of statistical data

Map-makers began to try to show more than just geographical position on a map. As a results, new graphic forms (isolines and contours) were invented, and thematic mapping of physical quantities took root. Towards the end of this century, we see the first attempts at the thematic mapping of geologic, economic, and medical data. Abstract graphs, and graphs of functions were introduced, along with the early beginnings of statistical theory (measurement error) and systematic collection of empirical data. As other (economic and political) data began to be collected, some novel visual forms were invented to portray them, so the data could 'speak to the eyes'. As well, several technological innovations facilitated the reproduction of data images (color printing, lithography), and other developments eased the task of creating them.

1751

Of 17 volumes, 11 were published with copper-plate engravings that depict all aspects of 18th century European life.

1765 Priestley's life-time graph of the lifespans of 2,000 famous people (1200 B.C. to 1750 CE). One of the first graphical time lines showing quantitative comparison by means of bars. (Source: Joseph Priestly, A Chart of Biography, 1765)

1786 Playfair's parallel time-series bar chart of prices of wheat, wages and monarchs over 250+ years (Source: Playfair, Letters on our agricultural distresses...; Tufte, p. 34)

1753 "Carte chronologique'': An annotated time line of history (from Creation) on a 54-foot scroll, including names and descriptive events, grouped thematically, with symbols denoting character (martyr, tyrant, heretic, noble, upright, etc.) and profession (painter, theologian, musician, monk, etc.)- Jacques Dubourg, France

Beginnings of modern data graphics With the fertilization provided by the previous innovations of design and technique, the first half of the 19th century witnessed explosive growth in statistical graphics and thematic mapping, at a rate which would not be equalled until modern times. In statistical graphics, all of the modern forms of data display were invented: bar and pie charts, histograms, line graphs and time-series plots, contour plots, and so forth. In thematic cartography, mapping progressed from single maps to comprehensive atlases, depicting data on a wide variety of topics (economic, social, moral, medical, physical, etc.), and introduced a wide range of novel forms of symbolism.

see also:

BACM-TEAM illustrated pie chart

Structural Assignments to Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) Proteins

http://www.bcchf.ca/about_annual.shtml -- children's hospital annual report

1801

The first geological map of England and Wales, setting the pattern for geological cartography, and founding stratigraphic geology. "the map that changed the world'' William Smith, England

1819

Dupin's cartogram of rates of illiteracy in France. Cartogram, map with shadings from black to white (distribution and intensity of illiteracy in France), the first (unclassed) choropleth map, and perhaps the first modern statistical map. (This cartogram dates from 1826

1847

Oliver Byrne's edition of Euclid

An unusual and attractive edition of Euclid was published in 1847 in England, edited by an otherwise unknown mathematician named Oliver Byrne. It covers the first 6 books of Euclid, which range through most of elementary plane geometry and the theory of proportions. What distinguishes Byrne's edition is that he attempts to present Euclid's proofs in terms of pictures, using as little text - and in particular as few labels - as possible. What makes the book especially striking is his use of colour.

1855

Use of a map to display epidemiological data, leads to discovery of the source of a cholera epidemic- John Snow, England

By the mid-1800s, all the conditions for the rapid growth of visualization had been established. Official state statistical offices were established thoughout Europe, in recognition of the growing importance of numerical information for social planning, industrialization, commerce, and transportation. Statistical theory, initiated by Gauss and Laplace, and extended to the social realm by Quetelet, provided the means to make sense of large bodies of data.

1857 Polar area charts, known as "coxcombs'' (used in a campaign to improve sanitary conditions of army)- Florence Nightingale, England

1950s

Jam Handy

http://ftp.archive.org/movies/vcd/05802.mpg
http://genedeitch.awn.com/index.php3?ltype=toc

As a Chicago Tribune staffer, Handy worked in many departments. While on the advertising staff, he noticed that they could move more merchandise "by the simple, secret device of informing and enthusing the sales people on the values advertised." He researched why customers had made their purchases, "and I explained that to the sales people." Handy had discovered his calling. He eventually left the Tribune and spent the next few years working with people like John H. Patterson of the National Cash Register Company, who was an innovator in using photographic lantern slides to train his worker and make them more efficient.

With another associate, Handy combined animated cartoons with films he produced about how everyday appliances worked, for showing in movie theaters. When World War I came along, Handy applied motion pictures to war products training, work that led to formation of the Jam Handy Organization. General Motors executives picked Handy to develop filmstrips for GM subsidiaries--films that could have subtitles printed on them, and be stopped to allow discussion. Skip Wendt, a filmmaker who was employed by the Handy Organization in the 1960s and '70s, said that for the introduction of a new model Chevrolet, Handy's group would produce separate packages of materials for dealers, salesmen, mechanics, and customers--brochures, manuals, pamphlets, filmstrips, everything--to teach about the model, and to fire the enthusiasm of the staff

Francesco Torti's
' taxonomy of fevers 1712'

'language tree' -- derivation of
European languages

progression

Tube http://www.tubegraphics.co.jp/d_mecha_e.html

Also:
How to Read a Dance Manual (*web)

Western Social Dance: An Overview of the Collection (*web)

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