Due January 23 CS 7450 - Information Visualization Spring 2003

Homework 2: Visualizing Multivariate Data

The purpose of this assignment is to get you thinking about how one might visualize a modest multivariate data set. Below is a picture of a data set about minivans. This is really just a data table. As the first part of the assignment, think about the cognitive tasks that people would perform with the aid of this data. What would a person want to know about this data set? Next, I want you to create a visualization of this data that would assist those tasks. Your visualization should be static, simply draw it on paper (you can use computer drawing tools if you want).

What to turn in: Turn in your visualization. Simply submit the drawing or drawings that you did. Also, explain how the visualization "works". What is represented? List some example tasks that your visualizations would assist. Note that it's unlikely that your visualization will assist many differnet types of tasks, so you may want to pick a particular type or types and focus on them.

Grading: I will evaluate the utility of your visualization to assist with the tasks that you identified. One component of the evaluation will the creativity of your design. Another evaluation dimension is the clarity of your explanations and your critical thinking about the visualization and data set.