Homework 1: Getting Started

Assigned: Tuesday, Aug 28, 2012
Due: Tuesday, Sep 4, 2012 edited -MCW 8/28

Fixed URL in Part 2 - use ~/public_html/cs795f12/ (no dash) -MCW 8/24

Description

There are three separate parts to this assignment. The goals are to get a baseline for how you think about graph design and to introduce you to several of the tools we will be using this semester.

Part 1 - Graph Design IQ

Take Perceptual Edge's Graph Design IQ test at http://www.perceptualedge.com/files/GraphDesignIQ.html.

1. For each question, write a couple sentences explaining why you made the choice you did. Note that "I just liked it better" is not acceptable. Think about the design concepts behind why you preferred one visualization over the other.
2. Print a screenshot of your final score.

Submission: Submit a hard-copy of your write-up and screenshot in class on the due date.

Part 2 - Install tools

Download and install the various tools we will be using this semester:

• R
• Tableau Public
• Processing
• Inkscape

Create a directory in your CS Unix account (~/public_html/cs795f12/) for your class work. Create a libs directory under that, and download the required libraries for these tools into ~/public_html/cs795f12/libs:

• Processing.JS - install both Processing on your own machine and Processing.JS in your Unix account
• Protovis
• D3.js
• jQuery Sparklines

Submission: No submission requirements.

Part 3 - Tutorials

• R - Martin Klein's tutorial
• Tableau Public - Video 1: How it Works
• Processing - Getting Started and Coordinate System and Shapes
• Protovis - Robert Kosara's "A Protovis Primer" part 1
• D3.js - main page and @ thecodingtutorials blog
• Inkscape (inside the program) - Help> Tutorials> Basics

Submission: For at least two of these tools, submit a print-out of the results of the tutorial and a brief summary (paragraph) of your initial impressions of the tool in class on the due date. Note: You may be asked in class to talk about few minutes about tools you tried out.