What are Infographics?I recently discovered a post on Langwitches blog called Infographics - What? Why? How?. She provides a number of definitions from various sources but to sum it all up, an infographic is information displayed visually and could include charts, mind-maps, graphs, and timelines.
Why the tendency to use text as the default for conveying information?
I personally am a visual learner so I can understand how visuals would be beneficial. However, I was reminded of a recent lecture for this class, titled "Lets get Visual" where Dean talked about our tendency to choose text as the default for providing information. Even though I prefer visuals, I have often chose to convey information using text or oral language. Why do I and so many others do this? Here are some possible reasons:
- It's the way we were taught.
- It may seem more efficient.
- We want to be explicit and avoid having students read between the lines.
- Our society emphasizes high value on the ability to read and write.
- It could take more work on the teacher's part to incorporate visuals.
However, when compared to the benefits of using visuals such as infographics, these reasons are weak...
However, when compared to the benefits of using visuals such as infographics, these reasons are weak...
Why use Infographics?
Highlight Important Facts
Television broadcasts, websites and newspapers use infographics to direct audiences to main topics and stories. Eyetrac III research—released by The Poynter Institute, the Estlow Center for Journalism & New Media and Eyetools—revealed that users scan web pages, stopping to read dominant and well-positioned headlines. Research also confirmed that larger images hold viewers’ attention longer than smaller images.
Organize Detailed Information
Illustration and strong visual organization allow readers to grasp key themes while viewing detailed facts and figures in an infographic. This is especially useful in conveying scientific data and financial statistics. Grouping related data makes it easier to remember the information.
Visualize Product Benefits
Companies use infographics to illustrate and compare product benefits. Interactive, animated and 3D infographics can be used to simulate user experience or product preferences. For example, a car manufacturer’s interactive website lets users choose car color and features. It dynamically assembles them, letting the user view and refine their “dream” car.
Understand Complex Concepts
Images may be simplified so that people focus on information essential to understanding the main concept. For instance, medical publications may use drawings to explain anatomical systems and medical procedures. Illustrations in infographics are simplified so that readers' attention is drawn to the main idea.
Infographics Increase Visual Appeal
With the enormous amount of news and information available, it is increasingly important to verify, organize, edit and display content so that the reader’s experience is enriched. Infographics can help acheive these goals.
Television broadcasts, websites and newspapers use infographics to direct audiences to main topics and stories. Eyetrac III research—released by The Poynter Institute, the Estlow Center for Journalism & New Media and Eyetools—revealed that users scan web pages, stopping to read dominant and well-positioned headlines. Research also confirmed that larger images hold viewers’ attention longer than smaller images.
Organize Detailed Information
Illustration and strong visual organization allow readers to grasp key themes while viewing detailed facts and figures in an infographic. This is especially useful in conveying scientific data and financial statistics. Grouping related data makes it easier to remember the information.
Visualize Product Benefits
Companies use infographics to illustrate and compare product benefits. Interactive, animated and 3D infographics can be used to simulate user experience or product preferences. For example, a car manufacturer’s interactive website lets users choose car color and features. It dynamically assembles them, letting the user view and refine their “dream” car.
Understand Complex Concepts
Images may be simplified so that people focus on information essential to understanding the main concept. For instance, medical publications may use drawings to explain anatomical systems and medical procedures. Illustrations in infographics are simplified so that readers' attention is drawn to the main idea.
Infographics Increase Visual Appeal
With the enormous amount of news and information available, it is increasingly important to verify, organize, edit and display content so that the reader’s experience is enriched. Infographics can help acheive these goals.
An article called Why We Love the Infographic provides the history and benefits to using infographics.
Examples of Infographics:
Videos:
Growing Up from YouTube
History of the Internet from Melih Bilgil on Vimeo.
More examples:
- 100 Seriously creative Infographics
- 25+ Useful Infographics for Web Designers
- 40 Useful and Creative Infographics
- Awesome Examples of Creative Infographic Illustrations
- 10 Revealing Infographics about the Web
One of the best sites I have found is called Cool Infographics. This site features a variety of interesting infographics, links to sites with more infographics, and links to infographic creators.
There are some interesting infograhics created by the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina.
How to incorporate Infographics into the classroom?
- Use infographics already created
- Create your own infographics
- Have students create infographics
Where to look for infographics to use in the classroom?
Infographics Sites:
- Online schools is an excellent site featuring a variety of infographics categorized into topics including arts and culture, life and health, science, and athletics.
- Online schools is an excellent site featuring a variety of infographics categorized into topics including arts and culture, life and health, science, and athletics.
- Elearning Examples- another amazing site with infographics on various topics. Example: FYI: Paper Airplanes
-Data Visualization and Infographic Resources- A great post that links to sites with infographics and tools for creating infographics.
-Data Visualization and Infographic Resources- A great post that links to sites with infographics and tools for creating infographics.
- Infograhic World- features a variety of infographics on environmental concerns such as celphones, renewable energy, and habitat disaster.
- 17 Intriguing Infographics About Global Health- Features a list of health-related infographics including the global obesity problem, world hunger by the numbers, and adult prevalence of smoking in 2005.
- Also search Flickr.com for infographics
- Also search Flickr.com for infographics
Single Infographics:
How to make an infographic?
Resources:
Tools:
-Tools for Visualization from My Technology Toolbox. Keep checking for updates in the visualization category.
-Tableau Public - create diagrams for visualizing data with this free software.
-You could also use free software such as Paintbrush.
-...Or you could simply draw one!
-Tableau Public - create diagrams for visualizing data with this free software.
-You could also use free software such as Paintbrush.
-...Or you could simply draw one!
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