Visual queries, visual thinking and data visualization

The visual query is a basic component of all analytic seeing and understanding visual queries is an essential part of the design of information visualizations. Simply put, a visual query is a process whereby a problem is addressed through a pattern search. It is an analytic visual act of seeing. For example, the visual queries for finding routes on a road map involve discovering connected lines connecting two map locations. A visual query on a weather map might be as simple as discovering the temperature by matching a color to a temperature key, or as complex as understanding the pattern of winds at a weather front. This talk will give an overview of the way visual queries fit within the visual thinking process as well as a look at the how designs can be optimized with visual queries in mind.