[Visinfo] Week 5 reading

[Corina S. Schweller]

Ben Fry's thesis explores the problem of visualizing dynamic 
information. The thesis skips around a bit and is clearly written, 
however, it does not flow smoothly from one topic to the next.
The thesis states that 'Organic Information Design' will provide a 
system to show dynamic data. Graphic representations allow a large 
amount of info to displayed and absorbed at once. Organic systems have 
parameters such as growth, metabolism, and responses to stimuli that 
allow it to represent dynamic info. The different types of Organic Info 
Visualization are Simulated Organic systems, Interactive Environments, 
Visual Refinement, Qualitative Facts from Large Bodies of Quantitative 
Data, and Dynamic Information Sources. The Star Logo environment sounds 
like it can be used for observing natural occurrences and behaviors. 
The interactive environments draw the viewer into the experience, 
however, it also could make the viewer miss integral aspects of the 
information since they might not be aware of how to navigate the scene. 
  The Visual Thesaurus though is rather straightforward in its use and 
leaves little room for deviation.  Important attributes of organisms 
are adaptation and movement. The guidelines of Organic information 
Design are structure, appearance and movement.