2006W	MAT 259 Visualizing Information(4 units) Professor George Legrady TA Angus Forbes e-studio, Art Department, 2nd floor Tu & Th 10am-12pm
Course Description	A lecture and lab course to explore the functional and aesthetic organization of information. Lectures and readings will focus on a range of conceptual models of data visual mapping as implemented in various disciplines. We will examine various methods, artistic and scientific, that are used to represent information visually. Students will come to the course with the intent to produce a visualization based on a set of data of their choice.
Week 1 Reading	Course Objectives To investigate the organization of information for visualization To understand the aesthetic methods of visualization An overview of conceptual models and methods To create a visualization based on data collection, data processing, data visualized output To fine-tune visual communication skills “Visualizing Knowledge Domains”, Borner, et al.	Proj 1: Data collection
Week 2 Links	Intersections of Computing & Data Organization Scientific Visualization Data/Information Maps (Geography, etc.) CyberAtlas Places & Spaces exhibition Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Information Vizualization “Multidimensional Scaling” McQuaid, et al. AuthorLink, ConceptLink Deep Green Hyperbolic Trees Visual Thesaurus InfoVis CyberInfrastructure Software	Proj 1: Data processing
Week 3 Reading	Systems of Classification Organization of data creates the meaning (Alphabetical, numeric, chronological, spatial, multiple, associative) Definition of Metadata (how it works) Data organization based on Metadata: specific (PFOM) and associative (Spoerri) “Information Interaction Design: A Unified Field Theory of Design”, Shedroff	Proj 1: Presentation
Week 4 Links	Algorithmic Models Self-Organizing Map Algorithms Dynamic Computational Models: prey/predator, genetic algorithms, etc. Swarm Intelligence Others from LSIS/Resource Kohonen Self-Organizing Map Software
Week 5 Reading	Research & Production “Organic Information Design”, Ben Fry
Week 6 Reading	Time-based Linear Animation Invisible Shape of Things Past, Art+Com Study of a Numerically Modelled Severe Storm, UIUC The Last Clock, Ängeslevä & Ross Cooper Time Series Analyst, Horsburgh “After the Storm”, Baker and Bushell	Proj 2: Presentation 1
Week 7 Links	Visual Narrative & Data Visualization Definitions of Narrative Narrative Methods: sequence, time Information Organization (Linear, multibranch, Baran) Definitions of Metaphor Spatial Metaphors: Change over Space Form imposes Meaning (medium & message) Visual Complexity [1] Information Aesthetics Conceptual Metaphor	Proj 2: Definition
Week 8 Reading	Student Presentations and Individual Research “Visualizing Demographic Trajectories with Self-Organizing Maps”, Skupin “A Cartographic Approach to Visualizing Conference Abstracts”, Skupin	Proj 2: Presentation 2
Week 9	Interactive Models Interactive Model:Newsmap | SmartMoney Baby Name Voyager, Wattenberg
Week 10	Presentations	Proj 2: Final Presentation
Final Projects	Jennifer Bernstein, Visualizing Meaning, (LSI & MDS overview) Zach Davis, Self-Organizing Images Angus Forbes, Experiments in Visualizing Machine Learning Algorithms Michael Godwin, Data Visualization of Crop Data Stacy Rebich, A Map of “Learning to Think Visually” Corina Schweller, Visualizing the Flavor of Data
Links	Legrady Mixed Resources Nathan Shedroff, Experience Design Ben Fry [1][2] Edward Tufte Visual Complexity Information Aesthetics Time Series Data Library Andre Skupin Self-Organization URLs Self-Organization Sandia National Laboratories, Self-Organizing Nano-Patterns James Hulvat, Research on Molecular Self-Assembly Theory and Computer Simulation Center Examples of Self-Organization Self-Organization in Biological Systems Gallery of Self-Organization Cytomechanical Module Abstracts Swarm Intelligence Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Swarm Resources Tony White's Swarm Intelligence Resources Bonabeau, Swarm Intelligence: From Natural to Artificial Systems Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation Cellular Automata Stephen Wolfram, A New Kind of Science Historical Examples in Ornamental Art Stigmergy ALife, "Waspnest" Images & Applet Dynamic Concepts, Inc. Joakim Linde's Image Gallery Swarm Intelligence Systems Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering Flocking Algorithm Boids Self-Organization Systems FAQ comp.theory.self-org-sys FAQ Bibliography Self-Organization in Biological Systems Further Links Art Christian Hubert C5
Project 1	Exploratory Description of Research Interests 1.Data Data Source Data Selection Data Format 2.Organization Methodologies What are the organizational methods? Any preferred algorithms? Filtering, Sorting 3.Visualizations Any preferred visualization? Still or Animated? Changing over time? What presentation format? 4. References Any preferred set of references? 5. Workload Planning In what order wil you prioritize your project’s development? In what would you like to concentrate on during the winter quarter?