Visual Analytics - An Interaction of Sight and Thought - JMP
Visual Analytics - An Interaction of Sight and Thought - JMP
Visual Analytics - An Interaction of Sight and Thought - JMP
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
What is visual thinking?<br />
Temple Gr<strong>and</strong>in<br />
We may consider “visual thinking” as that form <strong>of</strong> thought in which images are generated or<br />
recalled in the mind <strong>and</strong> are manipulated, overlaid, translated, associated with other similar<br />
forms (as with a metaphor), rotated, increased or reduced in size, distorted, or otherwise<br />
transformed gradually from one familiar image into another…“Pattern recognition” has been a<br />
major concern in artificial intelligence research <strong>and</strong> has proved to be quite complex. It has<br />
turned out to be one <strong>of</strong> those things which is very difficult for computers but easy for most<br />
human beings…For our purposes, we will consider pattern recognition to be the ability to<br />
discern similarities <strong>of</strong> form among two or more things, whether these be textile designs, facial<br />
resemblance <strong>of</strong> family members, graphs <strong>of</strong> repeating biological growth cycles, or similarities<br />
between historical epochs…From pattern recognition it is but a short step to “problem solving,”<br />
since, at least for its more common aspects, problem solving generally involves the recognition<br />
<strong>of</strong> a developing or repeating pattern <strong>and</strong> the carrying out <strong>of</strong> actions to obtain desired results<br />
based on one’s underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> this pattern. (In the Mind’s Eye, Thomas G. West, p. 36)<br />
Temple Gr<strong>and</strong>in is an amazing visual thinker. Perhaps because she’s autistic, the visual<br />
thinking parts <strong>of</strong> her brain have developed more fully than in most <strong>of</strong> us. A recent HBO movie<br />
about her starring Claire Danes does a wonderful job <strong>of</strong> explaining her world <strong>and</strong> the way she’s<br />
put her unique resources to work to make the world better, especially the life <strong>of</strong> cattle. One <strong>of</strong><br />
the most revealing lines in that trailer was when Gr<strong>and</strong>in said, “I know my system will work<br />
because I’ve been through it a thous<strong>and</strong> times in my head.” The most gifted visual thinkers can<br />
see complex images <strong>and</strong> manipulate them in their mind’s eye.<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> us can’t hold complex images in our heads <strong>and</strong> manipulate them like Temple Gr<strong>and</strong>in. We<br />
can, however, use complex images that are in front <strong>of</strong> our eyes on computers <strong>and</strong> manipulate<br />
them.
Change language