Network Visualization
Today we live in a world of interactions which in turn creates networks. We 
learned that networks are important because they help to understand complex systems. By understanding these systems, companies are able to control them which is a necessity. Networks can be very useful and in many ways, but once you construct a network it can be visualized. By visualizing a network, it can provide a lot of insight into the interactions or the nodes/communities that make up the network.
learned that networks are important because they help to understand complex systems. By understanding these systems, companies are able to control them which is a necessity. Networks can be very useful and in many ways, but once you construct a network it can be visualized. By visualizing a network, it can provide a lot of insight into the interactions or the nodes/communities that make up the network.What is information/data visualization?
Some indicate it to be a mental image of a concept, idea, or object. Another definition I found indicates that "data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context. Patterns, trends and correlations that might go undetected in text-based data can be exposed and recognized easier with data visualization." [3]
Today the visualization tools go beyond the standard charts and graphs. Now users have the ability to display data as infographics, dials and gauges, geographic maps, sparklines, heat maps, detailed bar, and pie/fever charts. The images can be more than just the static image, they may include interactive capabilities that allow users to manipulate them or drill down into the data for querying and analysis. Another great visualization tool are pre-defined indicators that alert users when data reaches the pre-defined conditions to prompt decision making or action.
Why is visualization important?
We also learn that the purpose of visualization can be to explore the data, communicate ideas coming from the data, and to understand the data to take action on it. The reason why visualization is so important is because it helps people see things that were not obvious to them before. By visualizing information, it can convey information in a universal manner and make it easy to share ideas with everyone. It allows for those reviewing the information to begin to ask questions based on the information displayed and hopefully make actionable decision making that is data driven. For companies, it is becoming more and more important to have a way to view their data in order to answer key business questions of what, where, how or why in order to implement the necessary changes or decisions to improve. This can impact a company's bottom line as well as their reputation.
Resources
- "Data visualization: What it is and why it is important." SAS. http://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/big-data/data-visualization.html
- Ram, Sudha. 2013. "Introduction to Networks." OMIS-MIS587, slides 1-18.
- Ram, Sudha. 2013. "Introduction to Network Visualization." OMIS-MIS587, slides 1-15.
- Rouse, Margaret. 2012. "Data Visualization Definition." TechTarget.
http://searchbusinessanalytics.techtarget.com/definition/data-visualization
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