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From: perlman@capybara.cis.ohio-state.edu (Gary Perlman)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng,sci.psychology
Subject: Re: visual presentation of quantitative info?
Message-ID: <66926@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 16 Oct 89 16:08:20 GMT
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Organization: Computer & Info Sci  Ohio State Univ  Columbus, OH 43210
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Among technical texts, Tufte's is one of my favorites.  After reading it,
I had learned how in individual cases, gifted individuals in a
flash of insight, created some of the best graphics of all time.
There were few generalities that I could use, although I often try to
minimize the ink-to-data ratio.

A paper that might be of some use is:

An Axiomatic Model of Information Presentation
Gary Perlman
Proceedings of the Human Factors Society - 31st Annual Meeting, 1987, 1229-1233
Abstract:
    The goal of information layout is to physically display
    information to reinforce the underlying structure of the
    information.  In this paper, I describe an axiomatic model of
    information layout.  The model has three levels: (1) a
    device-independent representation for structured information,
    (2) a set of axioms (or rules) relating information structure
    with display attributes, (3) a set of device dependent
    display attributes used to distinguish differences and show
    similarities in information structure.  The model infers,
    using logical deductions from its axioms, how display
    attributes should be used to show the structure of
    information.  A prototype software system exists that allows
    interactive design and evaluation of screen layouts.  Future
    research is planned to develop an expert system to aid in the
    automatic design of layouts, and to refine the prototype into
    a usable system. 

I am actually working on the future research now.  As usual, you can request
a reprint from me.
-=-
Name:  Gary Perlman               | Computer and Information Science Department
Email: perlman@cis.ohio-state.edu | Ohio State University, 228 Bolz Hall
Phone: 614-292-2566               | 2036 Neil Avenue Mall
Fax:   614-292-9021               | Columbus, OH 43210-1277  USA