A Classification of Visual Representations.

Visualization includes the study of both image synthesis and image understanding. Given this broad focus, it is not surprising that visualization spans many academic disciplines, scientific fields, and multiple domains of inquiry. However, if visualization is to continue to advance as an interdisciplinary science, it must become more than a grab bag of techniques for displaying data. Our research focuses on classifying visual information. Classification lies at the heart of every scientific field. Extant taxonomies of graphs and images can be characterized as either functional or structural. Functional taxonomies focus on the intended use and purpose of the graphic material. As such, visual representations can facilitate problem-solving and discovery by providing an efficient structure for expressing the data. Cognitive efficiency results when perceptual inferences replace arduous cognitive comparisons and computations. This article constructs a classification of visual representations. Through an understanding of the taxonomic relationships among a broad range of graphics, we hope to help designers decide how to represent various kinds of information.