Information Visualization by Robert Spence

Information Visualization by Robert Spence

“The book itself is a very good introduction to information visualization, and as such, it can serve for an introductory course allowing various pedagogical paths for an instructor to take… it is a very readable book to be recommended not only to prospective students of information visualization, but to anyone interested in the topic, since it is written in such a way that there are no prerequisites to be able to read it.” (P. Navrat, Computing Reviews, July, 2015)

“The title is accurate. There is a minor genre of books on this topic within statistics. This book differs in focusing on a broader range of data types. It also gives more attention to psychological and cognitive issues. … Professionals working primarily on interface design for a broad audience, say map or web page designers, may find the text useful as it discusses many issues other books on visualization ignore.” (Robert W. Hayden, MAA Reviews, June, 2015)

Bob Spence's research has ranged from engineering design to Human-computer Interaction, and often with the way in which the latter can enhance the former. He was involved in the 1970s with the invention of algorithms to enhance mass production, the proposal of the first focus+context display in 1980, and the invention of the Attribute and Influence Explorers in the 1990s. Bob also led development of the MINNIE CAD system which became a product in 1985. Since 1970 Bob has pioneered the field of Information Visualization and has taught the subject in courses in many countries. Latterly his interest has focussed on Rapid Serial Visual Presentation in which images that might interest a user are presented rapidly and effectively, as with the riffling of the pages of a book.