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What Is Data Visualization?

Today’s world is data driven. Governments and organizations collect trillions of data points every year with the aim of better understanding populations and informing service delivery. Much of this data is collected and presented as rows and columns of numbers which are hard to interpret. Data visualization changes that.

Data visualization involves presenting quantitative information in visual format. It involves using charts, maps, graphs, and other visual tools to relay data in a simpler, visual format. It is founded on the fact that humans are visual creatures, hence comprehend data more readily when it is presented to them in a visual format. Visualization enables them to identify trends easily, spot correlations between data sets, and contextualize data by time or geography.

There are various types of data visualizations. The most common are charts, graphs, and maps. Charts present a single subset of data such as revenue, profit, or customer registrations. They include bar charts where the data is presented as bars, line charts where it is presented as lines, or pie charts where it is presented as pie-shaped segments of a circle.

Graphs present data in a tabular format with one variable along the x axis and another along the y axis. They allow complex data visualization, enabling viewers to compare relationships between two or more subsets of data. For example, a graph can show both revenue and profit over a number of years so viewers can analyze the relationship between the two over time.

Maps are a form of geospatial visualization. They are used to depict data over a map, say of a country, state, or region. For example, a state map can include circles showing distinct values such as vaccination rates or the number of registered voters in each county.

The above are the major formats of data visualization. Other formats include dashboards, tree maps, heat maps, box plots, network graphs, and 3D surface plots.

Virtually all government agencies, nonprofits, academic institutions, and companies that collect or interpret data can use data visualization. Companies can, for example, use it to present data on sales, customer trends, financial outlays, or employee performance. Academic institutions can use it to present data on student enrollment, class attendance, and students’ performance in different courses.

There are several reasons why organizations should use data visualization. The first one is better comprehension of internal and external data. Another benefit is that it takes far less time to interpret visualized data compared to numerical data presented in rows and columns.

This leads to more informed discussions during meetings and higher quality decision making. Because they understand their data deeply, executives and managers can set clearer goals, formulate better operational procedures and controls, and develop more effective marketing plans.

Another reason to use data visualization is risk mitigation. Data visualization tools like charts and graphs make it possible for managers to monitor trends like employee performance, compliance, and customer satisfaction. They can analyze performance over time, identify lags in performance early, and take measures to address them before they worsen. This is much harder to do with numerical data.

There are, however, some disadvantages to data visualization. The first is that it takes time to prepare data visualizations. While digital tools do make it easier, the process still requires sorting through troves of data, identifying relevant inputs, and correctly presenting them in graphs, charts, and maps. This may be time-consuming.

Another disadvantage is confusion if the charts and graphs are poorly designed or include inappropriate information. People who are visually impaired may also find visualized data illegible. Ultimately, though, the advantages of data visualization far outweigh the disadvantages.

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More People Are Playing Poker

According to poker.org’s 2024 State of Poker survey, poker is on the rise. The publication surveyed over 1,300 players on the state of poker in the country. Results showed that 56 percent of people said poker was gaining popularity, 35 percent said that its popularity was stable, and 9 percent said it was in decline.

When asked what the biggest growth area they saw in poker was, 55 percent said it was the live tournament space. Another 26 percent identified online cash games, 25 percent said it was online tournaments, and 17 percent said live cash games.

Another positive trend noticed by researchers in the survey was the growth of home poker games. The website poker.org found that close to 80 percent of players played poker at home. Among professional players, 37 percent played home games occasionally and 40 percent regularly. Among amateurs, 45 percent played home games occasionally while 38 percent played them regularly.

This is good for the game, as most people (57 percent of players) learn about poker from their friends and family. Only 41 percent learn about it from the media. More home games mean current players are introducing new players to the game, increasing poker’s reach.

Overall, there are about 60 million poker players in the United States, according to playtoday.co. Optimove notes that many of the new players came in after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

There are several reasons why poker is gaining popularity in the United States. First is the appeal of the game. Poker is about competition, strategy, and skillfully outwitting other players. Just like other sports, players experience a rush of adrenaline when they compete and feel good when they win. This is even more true when there is prize money. This excitement attracts people to the game and keeps them there.

The Internet is another reason poker is growing. Online poker has made the game easily accessible to most people. They can now play games like Texas Hold’em against other players in the country or across the globe right from their homes. As mobile poker software becomes better, more people will become poker players.

Pop culture has also featured poker, drawing attention to the game. Many movies and music videos feature scenes of actors playing poker. This boosts the game’s appeal. Poker is also a very social game. Unlike many other casino games, people play poker against others, giving it a strong social element.

Finally, there’s the changing legal environment. As of October 2024, real money online poker is illegal in much of the country. Only Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Michigan allow it. However, many states are reviewing their laws on sports betting and gambling, and anticipated changes will enable more people to play.

A word of caution is in order, however. While poker is a relaxing hobby for many players, for some, it can have an addictive quality. The desire to play may consume some players completely. For this reason, players should be aware of this possibility and be sure to play the game responsibly and keep it in perspective, especially when money is involved.

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What Is Data Visualization?

The world is increasingly driven by data. For example, an organization’s ability to collect, store, and manage its data might determine its level of productivity. Data visualization is the process of ensuring that data is readily accessible and can be viewed and understood by relevant stakeholders. Data visualization involves the use of visual elements like maps, graphs, and charts.

Data visualization is gaining increased attention because it gives individuals and businesses the opportunity to gain a better understanding of patterns, trends, and outliers in a set of data. Because data visualization involves interpreting data into information that can be easily understood, data visualization is an easy way to convey information to stakeholders who might not possess the know-how to interpret more technical data.

There are different types of visualizations. They include graphs, geospatial representations, infographics, and charts. Graphs usually represent the connections between these variables with the x- and y-axes. Geospatial visualization demonstrates data in the form of maps. This visualization uses colors and shapes to demonstrate the relationships that exist between different data sets. Infographics, on the other hand, are a hybrid of visuals and words that explain data to the viewer. Infographics usually comprise diagrams and charts. Charts are diagrams that display curves, lines, segments, areas, and points that represent different variables.

Data analysts make use of a wide range of data visualization tools. These tools vary depending on the intended objectives of the analyst. They include line graphs, timelines, bar graphs, histograms, and pie charts. Line graphs are the most widely used data visualization tool. This graph is made up of the x- and y-axis and bar(s). The line graph is useful for keeping tabs on changes that might occur over a period of time. With line graphs, the analyst can connect different variables with lines, making their relationships more obvious to the reader. Timelines are data visualization tools that also make use of graphs. Timelines consist of horizontal graphs that represent or demonstrate values or events from different periods in time. Like the line graph, a timeline might consist of both the x- and y-axis.

Similarly, bar graphs are another type of data visualization tool that makes use of the x- and y-axis. Bar charts are very useful in visualizing data sets that are not static and also have negative and positive values. Analysts also use bar graphs to visualize or demonstrate several series of data or data sets that are categorized differently. Further, histograms are similar to bar charts in that they both consist of x- and y-axis and colored bars. Histograms are often used to demonstrate or visualize the distribution of large or varying data sets. While bar graphs are more focused on demonstrating qualitative data, histograms are better at visualizing quantitative data.

Pie charts are circular data visualization tools that demonstrate a wide range of values, typically in percentages that total 100. Each value or variable is usually represented by a section of the pie. However, there are complex instances where, in a bid to demonstrate additional data, these sections or slices might overlap. These instances of overlap usually help the viewer to immediately see a comparison that will help them understand the data.