With the very first day of proper training in DS38b commencing, the objectives of the lessons weren't too difficult or complex just yet. As a group, we explored the very basics of data visualization in terms of what it can be defined as, why it can be useful as well as some history behind the idea.
Data Visualization is a term that you can find numerous definitions for, some definitions a mere sentence, and others spanning paragraphs and paragraphs. A definition I felt was concise but detailed enough to start to begin to explore some of the intricacies of such a deep and rich concept was offered up by Jason Beres:
"Data visualization transforms data into powerful visualizations and provides tactical, operational, and strategic insights. No longer merely a spreadsheet, business intelligence visualizations can be used for everything from providing analysis of cybersecurity patterns, to managing workplace efficiency for global companies."
The idea of using graphics and figures can be traced back thousands of years ago, with cartographers visualizing data in the form of maps that they created. In roughly the 17th century, tables and graphs started to be utilized to convey data with William Playfair (a man of many professions ranging from Espionage to Metalwork and Accounting) inventing the bar graph. Other pioneers of data visualization include Florence Nightingale who hand drew charts such as Cox Comb charts visualizing the data behind hospital deaths, infections and other statistics
Data visualization continued to grow and grow over hundreds of years, with numerous graphs being invented and reinvented to this day as technology drives and supercharges the rate at which data is produced and analyzed. With AI and Machine Learning, two disruptive technologies still early on in their lifecycles, data analysis and visualization will no doubt continue to grow and evolve.