Home / Brinton, Willard C. Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts. New York: The Engineering Magazine Company, 1914. Internet Archive identifier: cu31924032626792 (Cornell University Library copy). The first American textbook on what we now call data visualization. / Passage

Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts

Brinton, Willard C. Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts. New York: The Engineering Magazine Company, 1914. Internet Archive identifier: cu31924032626792 (Cornell University Library copy). The first American textbook on what we now call data visualization. 270 words

Percentage op Each Race in the Population of the World

Yellow 45

White 41

Black 11

Brown 2

Red 1

It requires mental concentration in interpreting even these simple figures to get the correct impression of the very large percentage of the two chief races and the numerical insignificance of the one last named. If these data were shown in a simple horizontal bar, somewhat like that seen in Fig. 1, the relative proportions of the different races

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Scale l«=»Cent.

-- 5 Cents

Fig. I. Disposition of a s-cent Fare Paid to the Boston Elevated Railroad in the Year

Ending September 30, 1909

The horizontal bar gives an especially good method for showing component parts

COMPONENT PARTS

would instantly be seen without any mental effort on the part of the reader.

Fig. 1 is a very satisfactory form of chart to bring out the component parts of any group total. The horizontal bar need be made only wide enough to show the various kinds of shading necessary to give a good contrast. Engineering dimension lines above each block in the bar are of great advantage 50%

for convenient reading. The dimension

lines permit of group- y<^rVh--''- ^'^<>';"--^-i'>'v-^;v /-^i^'^VivSo:^'^

ing in such a manner /'*^^•••X^";^^^'^;:i•>^i^^f^•^

that several of the detail blocks could be included in various sets of dimension lines to show such items as total fixed charges, total operating expenses, etc.