A Framework to Maximise the Communicative Power of Knowledge Visualisations

Abstract

Knowledge visualisation, in the field of information systems, is both a process and a product, and is informed by the closely aligned fields of information visualisation and knowledge management. Knowledge visualisation has untapped potential within the purview of knowledge communication. Even so, there is little evidence of knowledge visualisations being deployed. This might be due to a lack of evidence-based guidance to inform their creation. To improve this situation, we derived a number of "lenses" that can be used to reveal essential perspectives and feed into the visualisation production process.We propose a conceptual framework which incorporates these lenses to guide producers of knowledge visualisations. This framework uses the different lenses to reveal critical perspectives that need to be considered during the design process. We conclude by demonstrating how this framework could be used to produce an knowledge visualisation with maximum communicative power .

Knowledge Visualizations to Inform Decision Making for Improving Food Accessibility and Reducing Obesity Rates in the United States

“…We view the FARA dataset as a complex analytics result that needs to be effectively communicated to guide policy making as well as a data source for public health knowledge creation. Thus, the communicative power of knowledge visualizations [10] is a consideration in our research. The FARA dataset has several advantages despite that the food access measures emphasized are household income, distance to supermarket, and availability of the household vehicle.…”

“…(2) knowledge visualization [10,[38][39][40][41]; (3) knowledge generation model for visual analytics [42]; (4) six categories of visuals for easy construction and interpretation of visuals [43]; (5) data visualization literacy framework (DVL-FW) [17]; (6) how visual representations are likely to affect the decision processes or tasks [44]; and (7) mindful engagement with visuals for optimal decisions [45]. The last three frameworks are particularly relevant to decisions on the core concept types of visualizations as well as the process of constructing and interpreting visualizations.…”

“…We have designed and implemented the knowledge visualizations for explanation and prediction in health systems decision making to follow guidelines on the functions (coordination, attention, recall, motivation, elaboration, and new insights); and design principles of knowledge visualization [10,16]. Additionally, our research follows the frameworks for (1) interaction design for complex cognitive activities with visual representations [36,37]; (2) knowledge generation model for visual analytics [42]; and (3) transition of data to knowledge through information and evidence where evidence is relevant, robust, repeatable, and reproducible [13].…”

The communicative power of knowledge visualizations in mobilizing information and communication technology research

“…These examples meet the general visualization design criteria of trustworthiness, accessibility and elegance (Kirk, 2016) where trustworthiness can be measured in terms of integrity, accuracy and legitimacy, accessibility in terms of usefulness and understandability and elegance in terms of aesthetics, balance and parsimony (Kirk, 2016). On a more operational level, the examples meet the KV criteria of anchor and extend, familiarity, clarity and consistency, include text, prudent simplicity and aesthetics (Renaud & Van Biljon, 2019). Using familiar terminology and notations, anchoring and extending the message is guided by a consideration of the target audience.…”

A Conceptual Knowledge Visualisation Framework for Transfer of Knowledge: An Organisational Context

“…The overall objective of this paper was to define a knowledge visualisation framework as a tool for knowledge sharing andrecall in organisations. The purpose of such a framework is to guide organisations from two perspectives: firstly, with the visualisation of knowledge in order to improve the transfer and sharing of knowledge, and secondly, to leverage the strength of human visual processing capabilities [23].…”