Comments on: Health Insurance Cost Data Visualization http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:11:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: DSA Insights » Blog Archive » Spending InfoVis! http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1787 DSA Insights » Blog Archive » Spending InfoVis! Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:57:21 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1787 [...] without time on an axis, a horizontal stacked bar chart can be effective. You can visit an earlier post to get more information on stacked bar [...] [...] without time on an axis, a horizontal stacked bar chart can be effective. You can visit an earlier post to get more information on stacked bar [...]

]]> By: DSA http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1761 DSA Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:51:30 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1761 You make a great point with exploration. I truly believe that exploration is widely underutilized in the business world. I find very few people that just try different models or algorithms to see what they can learn. Much of the visualization is in the form of simple [backwards] reporting. My goal for 2008 is to discuss more about what I call ‘Intelligent Business’ vs. Business Intelligence. Stay tuned! You make a great point with exploration. I truly believe that exploration is widely underutilized in the business world. I find very few people that just try different models or algorithms to see what they can learn. Much of the visualization is in the form of simple [backwards] reporting.

My goal for 2008 is to discuss more about what I call ‘Intelligent Business’ vs. Business Intelligence. Stay tuned!

]]> By: Hadley Wickham http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 Hadley Wickham Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:36:30 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1760 I think you've missed an important use of visualisation: for exploration. When performing a (complex) data analysis I might produce on the order of hundreds of graphics, most of which I throw away. These need to be cheap to create - both in terms of thinking time (how go I go from the plot in my head to one on the screen) and computing time (once I've told the computer what I want, how do long does it take). With respect to R vs Minitab and SPSS, both make it easier to produce canned graphics, but harder to produce custom graphics. SPSS also uses a system based on the grammar of graphics, but I'm not sure how well that is exposed to the user. The other important difference (if you're not familiar with R) is that it's open source and if you're doing serious research into statistical computing, you're probably doing it with R. I think you’ve missed an important use of visualisation: for exploration. When performing a (complex) data analysis I might produce on the order of hundreds of graphics, most of which I throw away. These need to be cheap to create – both in terms of thinking time (how go I go from the plot in my head to one on the screen) and computing time (once I’ve told the computer what I want, how do long does it take).

With respect to R vs Minitab and SPSS, both make it easier to produce canned graphics, but harder to produce custom graphics. SPSS also uses a system based on the grammar of graphics, but I’m not sure how well that is exposed to the user. The other important difference (if you’re not familiar with R) is that it’s open source and if you’re doing serious research into statistical computing, you’re probably doing it with R.

]]> By: DSA http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1759 DSA Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:35:40 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1759 This may be obvious, but I see two different uses of information visualization: 1) A setting (typically business) where a user needs to present data, which in most cases will be recurring (daily, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc). For this purpose I wouldn’t see Illustrator as a good option. For this instance, one would need to use a program that has a sufficient output format. Also, the place much of the software fall short. 2) A one-time presentation of data, which would commonly be found in magazines, newspapers, or possibly on the Internet. I believe this is where Nathan was coming from when he takes an object from R to Illustrator to fine-tune. I don’t see doing this for something that is recurring. I do see a huge benefit when personalizing data visualizations. I also agree that data typically needs to be scrubbed for various reasons most typically, formatting. I have perused your site and think you have done an outstanding job as noted by the many awards and accolades you have received. One limitation I often see in the business world is that there are very few people, like the two of you that can program with a package like R and present something that is extremely eye-appealing (as I’ve seen Nathan do). In my opinion, most people are good at one or the other, but rarely both. How does R compare to Minitab or SPSS? I have a hunch that many readers will not be familiar with R. This may be obvious, but I see two different uses of information visualization:

1) A setting (typically business) where a user needs to present data, which in most cases will be recurring (daily, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc). For this purpose I wouldn’t see Illustrator as a good option. For this instance, one would need to use a program that has a sufficient output format. Also, the place much of the software fall short.

2) A one-time presentation of data, which would commonly be found in magazines, newspapers, or possibly on the Internet. I believe this is where Nathan was coming from when he takes an object from R to Illustrator to fine-tune. I don’t see doing this for something that is recurring. I do see a huge benefit when personalizing data visualizations.

I also agree that data typically needs to be scrubbed for various reasons most typically, formatting. I have perused your site and think you have done an outstanding job as noted by the many awards and accolades you have received.

One limitation I often see in the business world is that there are very few people, like the two of you that can program with a package like R and present something that is extremely eye-appealing (as I’ve seen Nathan do). In my opinion, most people are good at one or the other, but rarely both.

How does R compare to Minitab or SPSS? I have a hunch that many readers will not be familiar with R.

]]> By: Hadley Wickham http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1754 Hadley Wickham Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:09:53 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1754 I really can't imagine creating visualisations in anything that isn't programmable (in my case, I use R). I have yet to work with a client who doesn't discover some problems with their data that requires changes. I've written the ggplot2 package for R, which implement's WIlkinson's grammar of graphics (a great theoretical graphics book if you aren't familiar with it). You can see some examples of what you can do with it at http://had.co.nz/ggplot2 I really can’t imagine creating visualisations in anything that isn’t programmable (in my case, I use R). I have yet to work with a client who doesn’t discover some problems with their data that requires changes. I’ve written the ggplot2 package for R, which implement’s WIlkinson’s grammar of graphics (a great theoretical graphics book if you aren’t familiar with it). You can see some examples of what you can do with it at http://had.co.nz/ggplot2

]]> By: nathan http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1747 nathan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:36:18 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1747 It's repeatable in the sense that R is programmatic, so you can do it as many times that you want. When I bring something I do in R into Illustrator, that part isn't "repeatable." At this point, I'm usually customizing and adding context, which is going to be different for every chart. It’s repeatable in the sense that R is programmatic, so you can do it as many times that you want. When I bring something I do in R into Illustrator, that part isn’t “repeatable.” At this point, I’m usually customizing and adding context, which is going to be different for every chart.

]]> By: DSA http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1746 DSA Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:18:35 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1746 Nathan - I just wish that Google would add a few, what I would consider primary, formatting options. I agree that it renders well and is probably the best default chart out of all the tools. I'm not too familiar with R and Illustrator, but I would have to think that the process you described is fine for a one-time chart, but not very repeatable. Would you agree? One of these releases of Office will probably have a better default chart. Nathan – I just wish that Google would add a few, what I would consider primary, formatting options. I agree that it renders well and is probably the best default chart out of all the tools.

I’m not too familiar with R and Illustrator, but I would have to think that the process you described is fine for a one-time chart, but not very repeatable. Would you agree?

One of these releases of Office will probably have a better default chart.

]]> By: nathan http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/comment-page-1/#comment-1744 nathan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:53:19 +0000 http://supportanalytics.com/blog/2007/12/health-insurance-cost-data-visualization/#comment-1744 Out of those, I'd go with the Google one. Despite the lack of formatting, it still seemed to render best. Those last two defaults aren't too pretty. I don't know why they don't just take a few minutes and make the defaults nicer looking. Personally, for a simple chart like this, I'd go straight to Adobe Illustrator, and modify away. For larger, more complex data, I use R, and if it has to be super pretty, I open the resulting pdf in Illustrator. Out of those, I’d go with the Google one. Despite the lack of formatting, it still seemed to render best. Those last two defaults aren’t too pretty. I don’t know why they don’t just take a few minutes and make the defaults nicer looking.

Personally, for a simple chart like this, I’d go straight to Adobe Illustrator, and modify away. For larger, more complex data, I use R, and if it has to be super pretty, I open the resulting pdf in Illustrator.

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