When looking at the concept of data visualization and all of the modern techniques we use to display and organize data, an important question to ask is how did we get to this point? When did we start recording and processing data, and how did we go about it? What methods were used in ancient times that led to how we display information today? To answer this question, it is important to go back into ancient history and find the first instances of data visualization. Milestones that range from the first known map to the first numerical system are crucial to understanding what data visualization has become. Since this is a matter of history, the best way to display such information is on a timeline.
The timeline itself was constructed using the Timeline website in conjunction with Google Sheets. The main source of research for the timeline came from a website showcasing the major milestones of data visualization in history. The theme of this timeline would be the earliest instances of data visualization in ancient times, with the year 1600 being the cutoff date.
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The milestones website provided most of the datasets for the visualization, including the first maps, the invention of paper, the first graph, the first star chart, the invention of moveable type, and first use of the Camera Obscura. However, while conducting research for the project, one item was suspiciously missing from the milestone website. That item was the first instance of a counting system. With this in mind, research was expanded to other websites. Unfortunately, an exact date for the first known counting system was not readily available. The best answer to be retrieved was 30,000 to 20,000 years ago, without any citation of when the article in question was written. Because of this, the first counting system could not fit into the timeline format. However, more precise dates were provided for the first numerical conversion system, which was another significant milestone in data visualization that the milestones website neglected to mention. These systems were said to have begun in ancient Babylonia back in 2700 BCE. This particular system was added to the timeline.
A limited amount of unique topics to discuss was another issue that emerged while constructing the timeline. While the milestone website contains many instances in history before the year 1600, most of these instances pertain to geographical mapmaking. This in and of itself was not an issue, as according to the milestone website, maps were the earliest forms of data visualization. However, if maps were the only instance of early data visualization being discussed, the timeline would fail to achieve its intended purpose. Thus, it was decided that a maximum of three different types of maps would be used in the timeline. Each of these maps were the earliest examples available, including the very first instance of data visualization dating back to 6200 BCE.
The media used in each point of the timeline depended on what information was available for each milestone. Most of the milestones only had pictures accompanied by text, which was cited when necessary. Simplicity and minimalistic design were the main goals in the timeline’s construction. Excessive background colors and other forms of visual variation were thought to be a distraction for the end user and detract from the content presented. Thus, everything was kept on a minimalistic white background with only the visuals of the pictures deviating from the color scheme. This in turn made the images and other forms of embedded media stand out more, providing a clearer picture for the end user of what visualization looked like right at the very beginning. Wikipedia articles and YouTube videos were used sparingly in order to keep the design interesting and compelling to the end user.
Researching these early form of information visualization has been an eye-opening experience. For instance, some may not be aware of the fact that the Camera Obscura actually dated as far back as 1545. And while the earliest counting system did not make it into the final draft of the timeline, the systems themselves were intriguing to read about. It is particularly curious that the milestone website didn’t list any primitive counting systems at all, as numbers in general do play a significant role in data visualization. Nevertheless, creative thinking allowed for the discovery of historic moments in data visualization that the milestone website did not mention. This in turn proved to be an enriching experience that enhanced the final product.
Moving forward, there are many more instances of early visualization history that have not been covered by this timeline. And much like with the counting system, perhaps there are still other milestones that the milestone website has failed to account for. If work on this timeline were to continue, more research into the early history of information visualization would be required. This additional research would theoretically provide more examples of early data visualization beyond mapmaking. Nothing would change for the design of the timeline itself, as any additional concept would interfere with the minimalistic design that was initially intended. However, more liberal use of media outside of mere pictures and Wikipedia articles might be appreciated by the end user.