ABSTRACT
Graphics are a powerful tool for the discovery of ideas (Lohse and Walker 1994). Exploratory data analysis helps identify relevant information from a set of data as well as gain new insight or understanding of a problem. Often verbal and numeric cues are insufficient to trigger some insight into the specific nature of the problem (Larkin and Simon 1987). Drawing a picture or a graph often helps break a mental block by providing a memory structure to aid the decomposition of information in the problem. Graphics also allow users to digest a lot of information quickly. Decision speed have always been important reason to use graphics. Graphs, aid data reduction, data summary, improve information search (Robertson et al. 1993) and facilitate computation. Graphics, diagrams and pictures transcend language barriers. Icons and international signs are examples of symbols used to communicate across language barriers. Cognitive psychologists found that visual information can benefit observable behaviors such as recall, comprehension and retention of information (Arnheim 1969; Umanath and Scamell 1988). Graphics enhance persuasion (Vogel et al. 1986). Vogel et al. also found that color overheads increased comprehension and retention of information when compared with black and white.
