Are we taking visualization too far?

You may already know I'm a frequent, passionate advocate for better visualization of data and other evidence. By that I mean using graphical representations so people can quickly get the idea of what important evidence is about, so hopefully the message isn't lost. For example, one of my current projects, Big Tags, is an effort to use web technology to supplement long, technical, jargon-heavy reports with structured summaries, "mini" versions of something called influence diagrams, and peer validation/review.

Sounds good, anyway. But once people start linking their various diagrams together, things can get messy. I was amused to see this recent Dilbert, which perfectly captures what I sometimes see happening in my dreams -- just before I wake up in a cold sweat.

Comments

[Meg Bear]

OMG I just saw that presentation at work two days ago. No kidding, that is perfect. Sadly I have been the recipient of not just graphics that make no sense to me but bullet points also...