PNNL

Abstract

Visual representations are essential aids to human cognitive tasks and are valued to the extent that they provide stable and external reference points upon which dynamic activities and thought processes may be calibrated and upon which models and theories can be tested and confirmed. The active use and manipulation of visual representations makes many complex and intensive cognitive tasks feasible. As described in the recently published “Illuminating the Path”, visual analytics is “the science of analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces.” We describe research and development at PNNL focused on improving the value that interactive visual representations provide to persons engaged in complex cognitive tasks. We describe work at PNNL that carries forward research from multiple disciplines with a goal to improve the capability of visual representations and present examples whose aim is to improve the extraction, and reasoning about information, knowledge, and data.