Innovations in Visualization

Advanced Topics in Visualization with a Focus on Biomimetic Visualization

CPSC 701.07, Winter 2016

This course will go beyond the visualization basics and fundamentals. As global interest in visualization expands exciting new research is emerging in many facets of visualization. One of these new directions draws from the incredible successes in engineering, where improvements in many directions including form, and functionality are resulting from leveraging the examples from biology. This has become known as biomimicry. Multiple examples of biomimicry can be found in Zygote Quarterly. The core of this course will focus on the idea of making use of a biomimetic approach in visualization. This will be set in examples of advanced visualization topics from a board range of visualization applications.

Lecture: W 16:00-18:45 in MS680A

Office Hours: TBA

Contact: M. Eggermont | 403-220-4952 | SB 149 | meggermo@ucalgary.ca
Charles Perin | charles.perin@ucalgary.ca
Sheelagh Carpendale | sheelagh@cpsc.ucalgary.ca


Prerequisites:

While we have not required a prerequisite a previous course(s) in visualization would be beneficial and other previous courses such as HCI, graphics, database, software engineering, etc. can also provide a good background.

Although there is no specific programming language to know, knowledge in Processing will be helpful. However, programming is not necessary as we are equivalently interested in data physicalization.


Grading:

In determining the overall grade in the course the following weights will be used:

  • 20% - In class activities
  • 20% - Class Participation
  • 60% - Course Project

This course will not have a Registrar’s Scheduled Final Exam.


Schedule:

TopicLearning Activity
Week 1 - Jan 13
Introduction to the course and the concept of biomimicry as applied to visualizationCombination of lectures and hands on activities leading to project formulation
Week 2 - Jan 20
Using semiotics as a generative approach that can be integrated with biominicryCombination of lectures and hands on activities leading to an understanding of exploring a visualization design space
Week 3 - Jan 27
Project proposalStudent presentations, discussions and critique.
Week 4 - Feb 3
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 5 - Feb 10
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 6 - Feb 24
Project progressStudent presentations, discussions and critique.
Week 7 - Mar 2
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 8 - Mar 9
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 9 - Mar 16
Project progressStudent presentations, discussions and critique.
Week 10 - Mar 23
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 11 - Mar 30
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 12 - Apr 6
Special topicsLecture plus discussion
Week 13 - Apr 13
Final Project: dueFinal project presentation

Special topics could include, but are not limited to:

  • Scientific Visualization
  • Visualization as applied in ubicomp
  • Visualization and interaction
  • Visualization for kinesiology
  • Visualization in digital humanities
  • Visualization and smart cities
  • Visualization and cartography
  • Visual analytics
  • Biological visualization
  • Chemical visualization
  • Visualization and software engineering
  • Visualization and statistics
  • Visualization and haptics
  • Evaluation in visualization
  • Personal visualization
  • Visualization and ecology
  • Visualization and behavioral change

Online resources:

Data sources:

Interesting websites to find collections of visualizations and infographics:

Interesting Infovis related blogs:

Resources for coding visualizations:

Some tools to visualize your data: