What is a visualization
A visualization is a word for when you have created an image, diagram or animation to convey a message or an idea. Above is a visualization visualizing visualization.
When computers made it possible to create digital graphics, this opened up many possibilities for visualizing things. You could then more easily create 3D, data, and scientific visualizations. Great stuff!
Visualization or visualisation? This looks like a simple British/American divide but it is not. The z in visualize predates American usage and is common in both traditions. The Oxford English Dictionary prefers visualize. I like the z version because then you can use viz for a short, as in
“Have you seen that fantastic science viz?!”.
Thanks for reading.
Sources and extras
- Analogue visualization is also very interesting, check out Dear Data.
- Here is the Oxford article on visualize.
- And here a Wikipedia entry on -ize.
Written by Julia Johansson