How to improve the perception of bar charts?

Problem : in order to “read” a regular bar chart, you have to additionally look for the key to its understanding - to read a signature like “less is better . ”

Nirazu is not symbolic and, as a result, slows down perception and is fraught with errors. But the diagrams are created just to provide information at this symbolic level, and not to force the text to be read (hello to the tables). Thus, these captions contradict the very idea of ​​the diagram.

An additional difficulty is that if there are a lot of diagrams in one place, it becomes difficult to switch between opposite positions: “the smaller, the better” and “the more, the better” .
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The task : on a symbolic level, to show who wins and who loses (which side is good and which side is bad).

I enter the symbol "win"

You can specify a "winning" column as a symbol (something approving, symbolizing a victory, depending on the situation):


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Here, the hand indicates the only winning column and, at the same time, indicates that there, on the right, is “good”.

I would not use two symbols at the same time to designate different poles (“win” and “lose”), since the user will have to identify each of them and then choose between them — in my opinion, precious nanoseconds go to this. And it will be easier to choose between “there is something” and “there is nothing”. One pole is enough. (However, other proofs, except these, I will not give.)

Synthetic charts

Such diagrams combine the results of many tests, so there will not be an unequivocal winner (in general). I will try to move the symbol of victory on the axis, visually combining with the maximum value on the scale:


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Gradient

In this case, I use the metaphor of the sky (higher values ​​go up to the blue skies). Additionally, everywhere on the diagram is empty, and only at one of the edges something gradually appears, which means emptiness is zero, saturation is maximum. In general, the gradient in brightness is also a smooth flow from minimum to maximum and vice versa; quite clearly the idea:


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Although sometimes gradients are used simply “for beauty” - this can interfere.

(However, my words above are only trying to justify the existence of the gradient after the fact. I really don’t know how it works; there are doubts.)

However, in the case of “less is better”, the gradient works worse or does not work at all - the elements on the left edge are too dense, unlike the right. Try to see him here at all (-:


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Arrows

I wonder what they tell you - I am no longer able to look at them fresh ...


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Highlight color

In some cases, it would be possible to highlight the winner in color, but the diagrams are now colorful (each column has its own color), so it will not always work out. Yes, and pick a single color for the expression of thoughts is not easy.

- What did you want to say?

In general, charts do not just exist - they are designed to express a particular thought. There are probably cold and impartial individuals, but still, when drawing a diagram, you should ask yourself, “would I want to express some concrete thought through this?”, Although, perhaps, weakly understanding this. For example, "Habr is not the same now" or "Ubunt all *** e and *** e with each release . " Then there is a chance that the Great Power of Context will descend, and thought can be expressed not in a general, but in the most effective and appropriate way. And it will be possible, for example, to award the winner (if "winner") with a virtual medal.

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If you have seen examples of successfully solved diagrams in this respect, or have something to say on the subject, please in the comments. Only chur it is painful not to kick - this is only my sixteenth post on Habré.

UPDATES

Another version for the situation “less is better” :


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As a minimum fix, you can convert the phrase “less is better” into this:


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Simply, and it will be necessary to think much less.

There are still a lot of ideas and thoughts in the comments.

Let's convert everything to “more is better”

I think “more means better” is perceived more naturally, more familiar, and therefore faster. It remains to convert each diagram into this “paradigm”.

Convert the values: the time spent on the passage of the track - at an average speed on the track.

But this is not always possible, and then draw the columns not on the left, but on the right! At first it was quite difficult for me to understand, but perhaps - the X axis, and the marks on it remained as they were:

Further reading

Offline-book Gene Zelazny " Speak on the language of diagrams " (thanks Zagrebelion )