Extending visualization to perceptualization: The importance of perception in effective communication of information

Abstract

Traditional visualization must evolve into perceptualization of information: conveying information through multiple perceptual channels and perceptually tuned rendering techniques. The choice of visual rendering techniques should be driven by characteristics of human perception because perceptual channels are the communication medium. This chapter summarizes some basics of human perception and shows several examples of how this perceptual basis can be used to drive new perceptualization techniques. The effectiveness of illustration techniques, the amazing power of the human perceptual system, and the enormous data deluge facing information analysts, medical researchers, and scientific researchers served as motivational factors to explore the possible extension of visualization techniques to perceptualization. The goal of perceptualization is to concisely convey information to the user through the creation of effective perceptual human inputs. © 2005 Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.