Why Use Visualization?

There are 3 main categories of visualization:

1. Explanatory Visualization

2. Exploratory Visualization

3. Confirmatory Visualization

Explanatory Visualization

The aim of such a visualization is to explain something to somebody i.e. to get a message across.

Exploratory Visualization

The aim of such a visualization is to be able to extract information from data, without knowing exactly what that data is about. This allows a user to answer questions and generate new hypotheses.

Confirmatory Visualization

The aim of such a visualization is to verify an existing hypothesis.

Therefore, information visualization can be used for:

• Communication: Explanatory Visualization

• Analysis: Exploratory and Confirmatory Visualization