Week 11 - Information Graphics

Compare the two graphs below. What is the ethical problem here?

Initially, both of the graphs above look very effective in terms of visual perspective. Anyhow, if the reader continues to read the data at the values and variables, there are several complications can be seen on the two graphs. The information graphic is to present information and data with the objective to deliver knowledge to the reader in simple form. According to Lester (2006) stated that information graphic is utilized and illustrated to describe intricate information with possible clarity and it is widely employed to demonstrate an abundant amount of information.

The above graph title shows a quite subjective as it states the difference on softwares between both graphs. Both Microsoft and Linux softwares were not known to be as open sourced which the main problem is the initial title itself when comparing the two softwares. Therefore, both of the graph above are able to deliver the knowledge visually than verbally which this is the main objective for information graphic as Tidwell (2011) stated information graphic as "to communicate knowledge visually rather than verbally."

On the variables, the X and Y-axis are different in both graphs. Linux graph shows there are 10 variables while the Microsoft graph has 11 variables. Both graph don't have same variables and few variables are able to be compares as presented on both graph. However, comparison on X-axis cannot be made as both graphs have different variables. On the Linux graph shows the multiples of 5 for the variables value while Microsoft shows multiples of 10. Hence, the more concern of this if the Microsoft software is used.

According to Pettersson (1993, p. 173) stated, “Information graphics provide the reader with a rapid and easily grasped overall view of a message and are therefore highly suitable as an introduction to and summary of a subject.” Therefore, a graph shouldn't have complications views to the reader because information graphic must at it simplicity and help people to understand what is being represented quickly without prior background knowledge of it.

References:

Lester, P. M. (2006). Visual communication:Images with messages. USA: Cengage Learning.

Pettersson, R. (2002). Information Design. An Introduction. United States of America: John Benjamins Publishing Company

Tidwell, J. (2011). Designing Interfaces (2nd ed.). CA: O'Reilly Media Inc.