PT|EN
Visualização de Informação
Courses Mestrado em Engenharia Informática e Tecnologia Web
Cod: 22126
Department: DCET
ECTS: 6
Scientific area: Information and Communication Technologies
Total working hours: 156
Total contact time: 30

Interactive digital systems serve to communicate information to the end user. But what happens when the information to be communicated consists of thousands of disconnected data points, buried within vast databases? How can we extract coherent insights without losing the richness contained in gigabytes of data? This seemingly chaotic and amorphous space is the domain of information visualisation. Here, the developer of interactive systems works with numerical data and mathematical dimensions, using visual language to reveal previously unknown insights. Information visualisation enhances the legibility of interactive digital systems and is a key component of their success.

This course aims to provide students with advanced training in information visualisation. Its primary objective is to offer a solid understanding of visual techniques and methodologies for analysing and mapping data visually, equipping students with the necessary foundation to design and implement effective solutions in this area of knowledge.

 

Information Visualization
IV

  • Recognise the importance of information visualisation in the design and implementation of interactive software applications across diverse domains;

  • Understand the various visual and interaction techniques and identify how they should be applied;

  • Develop knowledge of human visual perception and cognition, and their relevance to effective visual communication;

  • Appreciate the role of visual aesthetics in the communication process and in shaping the user's relationship with interactive systems;

  • Identify, classify, and apply key principles, models, algorithms, and techniques of information visualisation in the development of final solutions;

  • Analyse, categorise, and evaluate available systems and technologies; effectively utilise existing technologies in the development of information visualisation solutions;

  • Employ appropriate methodologies for designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating information visualisation solutions.

 

    1. Introduction to Visualisation

    2. Data and Tasks

    3. Analysis

    4. Visual Encoding

    5. Design and Redesign

    6. Aesthetics and Visual Perception

    7. Visualisation Evaluation Methodologies

    8. Software Tools for Visualisation Development

    9. Final Project

  • Munzner, T. (2014). Visualization Analysis and Design. CRC Press.

  • Ware, C. (2000). Information Visualization: Perception for Design. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann.

  • Bederson, B. & Shneiderman, B. (2003). The Craft of Information Visualization: Readings and Reflections. Morgan Kaufmann.

  • Tufte, E. R., & Graves-Morris, P. R. (1983). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press.

  • McCandless, D. (2012). Information is Beautiful. London: Collins.

 

All teaching and learning activities within this course will be conducted online, in a virtual classroom environment, with an emphasis on asynchronous communication. The adopted methodology follows the Pedagogical Model in use at UAb for second- and third-cycle programmes. The approach is primarily project-based.

The assessment criteria for this course are as follows:

  • Topic 1: Forum participation (10%)

  • Topic 2: Analytical assignment (20%)

  • Topic 3: Presentation of proposals and data in the forum (20%)

  • Topic 4: Quality of the report, including critical analysis and redesign proposal (20%)

  • Topic 5: Quality of the final project and report (30%)

    • Prototype: 15%

    • Report: 15%

The course will be graded on a scale from 0 to 20. A final mark of at least 10 is required to pass.
The final grade is the sum of all graded activities. If the minimum requirements for passing the course are not met, no final grade will be awarded.
Late submissions will incur a penalty of 0.25 points per day, with a maximum tolerated delay of 16 days.