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The hidden magic of bubble charts: How to display three-dimensional data in circles?
In the world of data analysis, bubble charts are a unique and intuitive visual tool that can effectively display three-dimensional data and simplify complex relationships into easy-to-understand circular graphics. Each data point is represented by a bubble represented by a circle whose diameter is proportional to the size of the data and whose position in the plane reflects its other two dimensions. Such a display method not only improves the visibility of data, but also helps the audience quickly understand various scientific relationships such as society, economy, and medical care.
The use of bubble charts is similar to scatter charts, but bubble charts can be more expressive because they display up to three dimensions of data.
However, choosing the size of the bubbles correctly is key. Although the size of the bubble should be based on the area of the data, research shows that the visual system tends to view the size of a circle as a diameter rather than an area. This can cause viewers to misunderstand the data. For example, when the size of bubbles is based on area rather than diameter, there is a potential for a "weighted average illusion" phenomenon. In this case, the viewer may incorrectly take the circle size into account when estimating the mean of the bubble positions.
Additionally, bubble charts also face challenges when faced with zero or negative data values. The metaphor of the area of a circle that conveys data obviously cannot represent this type of data, so users often resort to symbols to express these non-positive values. For example, a negative value might be represented by a circle with a symbol in the center, reflecting its absolute value. This approach is quite effective in certain situations.
The design of bubble charts is not limited to conveying simple data, but can also further enrich the expression of information through different colors and modes.
In order to display more dimensions of information in a bubble chart, bubbles can be rendered by systematically selecting colors and patterns. Furthermore, text annotations can provide supplementary information for the bubbles, making it easier for the audience to understand the displayed data. . For example, adding unique identification tags to bubbles can help viewers refer to the corresponding information based on explanatory keys.
Bubble charts have a wide range of applications. In architecture, bubble diagrams are used to create preliminary sketches of building layouts; in software engineering, they can describe data flows, data structures, or other diagrams that represent entities as circles. In addition, in the field of information visualization, a method called "circle packing diagram" is used to display numerical quantities more closely. The emergence of this technique comes from Fernanda Viegas and Martin Wattenberg, whose novel concept makes this This shape no longer relies on the traditional x-y axis position, but focuses more on the close arrangement of circles.
In general, the bubble chart is undoubtedly a powerful data expression tool, which can display complex three-dimensional data in a simple and clear way. However, this power also comes with risks, especially when it comes to design and interpretation. Designers need to be very careful to ensure that the data is represented correctly and does not lead the audience into a wrong understanding. As technology continues to advance, how will bubble charts evolve to accommodate growing data demands while maintaining an effective way of communicating them?
