Abstract

Nowadays, visualization is used in all contexts. However, there is a gap or mismatch between the intensive use of visualization and our low level of visual knowledge. The creation and proper use of effective information visualizations is constrained by rules or principles that guarantee their effectiveness in communicating a message. Many of these principles come from psychology and, specifically, from the theory of perception. Other principles emerge from the structure of information and the visual power of tables and graphs. Despite all of these considerations, two key principles must be kept in mind when creating and using information visualizations within a communications strategy: the principle of objectivity and the principle of data-ink ratio.

Abstract

The implementation and global expansion of the internet has affected all areas of our society. This influence has forced the media to revise their business models by creating new production and distribution processes and ultimately pushing out new digital versions (online media or cybermedia) of their publications. In this new digital environment information visualization plays a key role in marketing plans and user retention. This trend can be further understood by exploring the distinction between infographics and data visualization, and by defining a taxonomy that describes all new and traditional information visualization products used in online media.

Abstract

Information visualization covers the basic functions of data storage and communication, and reasoning support; most of the recently developed visualizations include these functions. However, among these, a small subset stands out for their innovative approaches and contribution to the development of the discipline. This article will review some of the innovative visualizations developed in 2016 and organize them into three groups. On the one hand, we present a small selection of visualizations that incorporate conceptual novelties and new visual proposals. On the other hand, we show some others that have drawn attention to the importance of the data set they have visualized. Finally, we account for some of the technological advances that have been developed within the discipline throughout this year.

Abstract

Recent advances in technology have provoked changes in the information visualization discipline. This article reviews some innovative visualizations and organizes them into three groups. First, we present a small selection of visualizations that incorporate conceptual novelties and new visual proposals. Second, we show some other ones that have drawn attention to the importance of the data set they have visualized. Finally, we account for some of the technological advances that were made in 2017 within the discipline.

Abstract

2018 has been an important year for the information visualization discipline. This work reviews some of the innovative visualizations developed throughout 2018, organizing them, asd previous proposals published in this Anuario ThinkEPI, into three groups. First, a small selection of visualization with conceptual novelties and new visual proposals are presented. Second, there are some others that have drawn attention to the importance of the data set they have visualized. Finally, some of the technological advances that have been developed within the discipline throughout this year are highlighted.

Abstract

The evolution of the information retrieval discipline has not been sensitive to developing the display of results. In many cases, the results presentation is as important as the selection of the retrieved documents in satisfying the user’s information needs. However, it is possible to identify a number of standard models and certain trends in the visual presentation of results in a retrieval system. This study analyzed the patterns and trends and established a series of requirements (architectural and semantic) as a guide for improving the functionality of visualization tools in the retrieval processes.

Abstract

The newspapers are one of the media that we use every day to inform us. Although our usual reading of them is purely textual, another much richer option exists: visual reading. Understanding the underlying patterns in the composition of the submodules in a news item, and the relationships between graphic images, modules of ads and other modules of news, gives us a much richer and interesting interpretation of our reality that is transmitted by the newspaper editors.

Abstract

This longitudinal study of the development of Spain’s ISI scientific domain examines three key time periods: 1990-1995, 1996-2000 and 2001-2005, with the goal of describing the basic structure and backbone of Spanish research, as well as studying its development over time. To this end, ISI categories are used as units of analysis, co-citation as units of measure, and pruning algorithms to simplify the relationship between categories in the visualizations. The results show that from the macrostructure point of view, biomedicine and materials science research provide the basic nucleus at first. Over the years this nucleus is consolidated and expanded with agricultural and soil sciences research. From the microstructure perspective, an increase is observed in the number of interdisciplinary categories, which occupy central positions, indicating increased interaction between disciplines that have traditionally been more important or visible and those on the periphery, or less well known.

Abstract

The application of the Cameo (Characterizations Automatically Made and Edited Online) bibliometric technique -one of the most advanced methodologies for the analysis and representation of information- to the research history of Marshall McLuhan allows us to create a scientific portrait of this Canadian communications expert. The Cameo portrait identifies McLuhan’s professional and academic interests, the authors that most heavily influenced his wave-breaking theories and the evolution of his line of thought in current trends of Communication. By analysing the relational information of citations contained in articles about McLuhan in the ISI Web of Science, we were able to create a map of his intellectual sojourns, including signposts of the most influential authors in his professional career, along with a second representation that shows the “footprints” his writings have left in the world.

Abstract

Obtaining information in short periods of time can make the difference for research or business; therefore it is important to have tools that facilitate the search for information. A visualization technique called information-clustering engine is reviewed: Carrot2  separates the documents found on the Web into groups or clusters, using clustering algorithms that consult various sources of data and then process and display the information obtained. This open-source software significantly reduces the effort involved in information retrieval (IR) and analysis.