Most Overused Data Visualization Term
If you ever sat through a live presentation that contained at least one chart, chances are that you have heard the term “eye chart”. This is an expression used to make light of the fact that people sitting farther than about two feet away probably can’t see or make out the details of the chart due to its size. Technically, it refers to the chart that is used by physicians or others to judge a person’s vision. Personally, I’ve heard this term way too much and it prompted this post.
I understand if charts like the one below are needed to illustrate certain complex or large data sets. I get that. However, I would take issue if the chart below was put into PowerPoint, Keynote or the likes. The job of the presenter is to tell the story with the data using whatever means necessary to accomplish this effectively. The best chart or graph created is going to be worthless if the presenter has to say, sorry that you can’t see the Rembrandt-like visualization I created, but take my word for it.
If you use the term “Eye Chart” in the title of your visualization, there’s your sign.
[source]
The point of this post is to prompt thought about effectively presenting data in a way that promotes thinking and discussion. In my opinion, if you stop to refer to a slide as an eye chart, you’ve lost some creditability and should have taken a different approach.
March 25th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Sorry, I’ve never heard of an eye chart (except the optician’s one) and I’m still not sure what it is. What do the people calling their charts “eye charts” mean by that?
March 25th, 2010 at 9:29 am
I’ve never heard that one either, but maybe that just means I haven’t had to sit through enough terrible presentations so far.
The point you’re making is a very valid one, though. You often hear, “you can’t quite see this on the slide, but …,” and it’s just a sign of being lazy and careless. It can happen when you’re in an unfamiliar setting or you’re working with a badly configured projector. But in most cases, it just means somebody threw an image on a slide without thinking, and is expecting the audience to just trust him/her.
March 25th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Everything Tony said applies to tables as well. Large tables may be very useful in handouts but do not belong on the screen.
Add one more to the group that has not heard the term “eye chart” applied to charts and graphs and I have sat through enough terrible presentations. By the way, the profession that makes the most use of eye charts is optometrists. Opticians make the glasses that optometrists (and others) prescribe.
March 25th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
From reading the comments so far, I guess I may need to soften the title a bit.
The real “Eye Chart” also known as the Snellen Chart is to estimate one’s visual acuity. When tested, you start at the top and read down the lines going as low as you can before being unable to read the small print.
The reference to an “Eye Chart” is really a reference to what you would see at an Optometrists or physician’s office. I see the chart every time I am at my daughters Pediatrician’s office. When someone refers to a data visualization as an “eye chart”, they are simply saying that you probably can’t read it from where you are sitting/standing. Most commonly, I hear it from the presenter when a slide comes up that has a small chart that can’t be seen by the audience. They might say something like, “Sorry about the eye chart for those sitting in the back”.
March 25th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Exactly Robert! For my reference you can substitute, “You can’t quite see this on the slide, but” for “Sorry for the eye chart, but”.
March 25th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tony Rose, Tony Rose and David Gerbino, David Gerbino. David Gerbino said: @dsainsights Read you post this morning. I have never heard of eye charts – http://bit.ly/al9dAv [...]
March 25th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Tony, as per my tweet earlier today, http://twitter.com/dmgerbino/status/11048029077 , I have never heard of an eye chart or Snellen Chart.
Naomi, I agree with you about large tables.
@dmgerbino
March 26th, 2010 at 2:25 am
“Sorry for the eye chart, but…”
Ah, now I get it! Yes, apologizing for the presentation you designed is annoying. Mind you, in the high pressure last minute work environment I often end up apologizing for what I ought to have done and didn’t, because I designed the presentation five minutes before the meeting, leaving myself zero time to check that it works. Slap on the wrist for me.
This goes beyond infographics into the realm of the more general presentation blogs, such as not getting into the room before the meeting to check your power, network connections, and projectors are all working properly, leading to embarrassing ten minute delays while you fiddle with cables and phone Business Facilities for help.
Pre-designing the apology into the title of the chart though, that’s beyond a joke.