BackgroundAbstraction is essentially simplification. Effective visual portrayals eliminates influences that are of minor consequence, so the focus is on the primary influences or elements.
Effective visualization is a way of eliminating noise, leaving out known data (less relevant) for the sake of explanation. There needs to be a sifting process whereby the more salient ideas are incorporated and the ideas that lack importance are left behind. This is called "subtractive abstraction" (Arnheim, 1974). Subtractive abstraction involves making decisions about what will be left in and what will be excluded, based on the goals of the image (Massaroni, 2002). The key is having just the essential information in the explanation. This is an art form. There is a trade-off between the amount of information communicated and the amount that can be processed. Ocum's razor comes to mind; ). The choice in terms of level of abstraction depends on the desired outcome. Too much information for the sake of realism is sometimes counterproductive. Levles of abstractionIt is worth noting that there are levels of abstraction and one of the design choices to be made is which level best communicates the story. There are times when a highly realistic representation is exactly what is needed while at other times that level of detail just gets in the way of thinking conceptually.
Effective visualization is a way of eliminating noise, leaving out known data (less relevant) for the sake of explanation. Understanding the AbstractExperiences with realism or real-life scenarios are crucial to understanding abstract ideas. Without an experiential base then abstract portrayals are difficult to understand. In cognitive science terms the abstract portrayal needs to activate existing knowledge structures so that it has a place to connect to. It comes down to knowing your audience and their experiential base.
Consider the chart in the following Figure and think about how abstraction influences understanding. |
PurposeAbstraction is a way of focusing the mind on primary aspects of story rather than being overwhelmed or distracted by realistic details.
IllustrationsConsider the different types of portrayals and the dimensions of information each communicates. For instance, consider the following images. How does an outline shape differ from a shape filled with colour, and how does that differ from a photo realistic image?
Check out the following slideshows and evaluate what is gained and lost in the levels of abstraction:
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References
Arnheim, R. (1974). Virtues and vices of the visual media, Chapter VIII. In Olson, D. R. (Ed.) Media and symbols: The forms of expression, communication, and education. National Society for the Study of Education, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Massironi, M. (2002). The psychology of graphic images : seeing, drawing, communicating. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum..
Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia learning. Cambridge University Press.