Map Definitions

[visual think map]

Here I want to try to collate the different terms/defintions of the differnt types of maps that are out there. It will also make it helpful for linking to.

[visual think map]

Mental Schemas, ‘…schemas integrate all our senses. They are pre-linguistic and must be converted into language before they can be expressed as words’ or images (Sharples, 1999, p.91).

Sharples, Mike. (1999). How We Write: writing as creative design.Routledge, London

[visual think map]

Topographic Map - Topographical is ‘the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a relatively small area, district or locality’ (Jeffries & Yeap, 2000, p.90). It involves ‘landmarks’ that ‘are simply connected as a topological network’ (Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 2007, p. Topographical).

Example: http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=2168552%3APhoto%...

Springer. (2007). Part of Springer Science+Business Media – Search(s) – Athens authentication, http://www.springerlink.com/. Jeffries, M.E & Yeap, W.K. (2000). On
Early Cognitive Mapping. Spatial Cognition and Computation, p 85 – 116.
Kluwer Academic Publishing, Netherlands

[visual think map]

Cognitive Maps are ‘a process composed of a series of psychological transformations by which an individual acquires, codes, stores, recalls, and decodes information about the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in their everyday spatial environment’ (Montello, 2002, p.283).

The locations and attributes of phenomena being concepts (perceived regularities in objects & events). The phenomena could be the Concept Maps, Brainstorms or books, websites, films from which concepts/locations & attributes, may be acquired & communicated.

‘the process by which ones mental representations (i.e. a cognitive map) is acquired and manipulated’ (Jeffries & Yeap, 2000, p.85).

Examples here: http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/main/search/search?q=telegeography

Google. (2007). Search – Cognitive Mapping

http://intraspec.ca/12montello.pdf. Montello, David. (2002). Cognitive Map-Design Research in the Twentieth Century: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches. Cartographic and Geographic Information Sciences, Vol. 29, No.3, pp.283-304

Springer. (2007). Part of Springer Science+Business Media – Search(s) – Athens authentication, http://www.springerlink.com/. Jeffries, M.E & Yeap, W.K. (2000). On Early Cognitive Mapping. Spatial Cognition and Computation, p 85 – 116.
Kluwer Academic Publishing, Netherlands

[visual think map]

A Mind Map is 'a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlocking the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills – word, image, number, logic, rhythm, colour and spatial awareness – in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing, it gives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain’ (Hirvikallio, 2007, p.1),

‘Intriguing and helpful method of making “linking” notes’ (Curzon, 1985, p 153).

example here: http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=2168552%3APhoto%...

Google. (2007). Search – Cognitive Mapping

http://intraspec.ca/cogmap.php. Hirvikallio, Sami (2007). Mental Maps. 141984. http://www.cs.joensuu.fi/~marjomaa/Knowledge_Representation/doc/Kno...

Curzon, L.B. (1985). Teaching in Further education 3rd ed – an outline of principles and practice. Holt, reinhart and Winston, London

[visual think map]

Brainstorm is where the ‘aim is to generate new ways of understanding or exploring a topic through the train of connected ideas’ and it is useful to have ‘another perspective, a good approach is […] deliberately suppressing any temptation to evaluate the idea or turning it into prose’. An excellent example of this is through the website visualtheasaurus.com, fig 6 (Sharples, 1999, p.49).

Spider Diagram – similar to brainstorming

Writing Pad. (2007). Pat Francis: Reflective Learning Journals in Studio Practice.

http://www.writing-pad.ac.uk/index.php?path=photos/18_Resources/04_.... Sharples, Mike. (1999). How We Write: writing as creative design. Routledge, London

[visual think map]

Flow charts are a way to simply describe a process or flow. There are standard conventions for how to visualize documents, flows, hubs and start/end points.

You can learn the basics of flow charting in an hour or less, so it's easy to get started very quickly.

found: http://www.squidoo.com/visualmapping

[visual think map]

'Visualization of data makes it possible for researchers, analysts, engineers, and the lay audience to obtain insight into these data in an efficient and effective way thanks to the unique capabilities of the human visual system, which enables us to detect interesting features and patterns in a
short period of time.' p1

...'I have considered visualization
from multiple perspectives. None of these is superior. One
view is to consider visualization purely from a technological
point of view, aiming for effectiveness and efficiency.
This requires that costs and benefits be assessed. The simple
model proposed enables us to get insight into various
aspects of visualization and also to understand why certain
classes of methods are successful and others are not.

Another view is to consider visualization as an art, i.e.,
something that is interesting enough for its own sake. The
use of insights from design can help us to improve
visualizations. Finally, a view on visualization as an empiric
science was discussed.' [...]

'each view that is adopted does imply playing a different game,
and, if we want to win, we should play those games
according to their own rules:
aim for provable effectiveness and efficiency,
aim for elegance and beauty, and
aim at generic laws with predictive power.' p11

from: Views on Visualization by Jarke J. van Wijk, Member, IEEE

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS, VOL. 12, NO. 4, JULY/AUGUST 2006,

also useful: Four Stages of Visualisation

[visual think map]

‘…schemas integrate all our senses. They are pre-linguistic and must be converted into language before they can be expressed as words’ or images (Sharples, 1999, p.91). Maceachren in How Maps Work defines this process as Visualisation, ‘“a human ability to develop mental images [mental schemas] […] together with the use of tools that can facilitate & augment this ability” (Maceachren, 1991:12)

visual think map said:

'Visualization of data makes it possible for researchers, analysts, engineers, and the lay audience to obtain insight into these data in an efficient and effective way thanks to the unique capabilities of the human visual system, which enables us to detect interesting features and patterns in a
short period of time.' p1

...'I have considered visualization
from multiple perspectives. None of these is superior. One
view is to consider visualization purely from a technological
point of view, aiming for effectiveness and efficiency.
This requires that costs and benefits be assessed. The simple
model proposed enables us to get insight into various
aspects of visualization and also to understand why certain
classes of methods are successful and others are not.

Another view is to consider visualization as an art, i.e.,
something that is interesting enough for its own sake. The
use of insights from design can help us to improve
visualizations. Finally, a view on visualization as an empiric
science was discussed.' [...]

'each view that is adopted does imply playing a different game,
and, if we want to win, we should play those games
according to their own rules:
aim for provable effectiveness and efficiency,
aim for elegance and beauty, and
aim at generic laws with predictive power.' p11

from: Views on Visualization by Jarke J. van Wijk, Member, IEEE

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS, VOL. 12, NO. 4, JULY/AUGUST 2006,

also useful: Four Stages of Visualisation

[Nat Case]

See my blog (maphead.blogspot.com) for discussions on defining "map", and "cartography" and so on.

Also look at Kanarinka's book of definitions, 42 or 363 Definitions of Cartography.

Nice idea for a site, lots of potential.

[Nat Case]

Note however the American adotion of "topographic" as a synonym for "terrain-related". See the Wikipedia for Topography

visual think map said:

Topographic Map - Topographical is ‘the detailed mapping or charting of the features of a relatively small area, district or locality’ (Jeffries & Yeap, 2000, p.90). It involves ‘landmarks’ that ‘are simply connected as a topological network’ (Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 2007, p. Topographical).

Example: http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=2168552%3APhoto%...

Springer. (2007). Part of Springer Science+Business Media – Search(s) – Athens authentication, http://www.springerlink.com/. Jeffries, M.E & Yeap, W.K. (2000). On
Early Cognitive Mapping. Spatial Cognition and Computation, p 85 – 116.
Kluwer Academic Publishing, Netherlands

[visual think map]

Infographics or Information graphics is mode of visual communication of information using graphics. Like maps, technical writing, flowcharts, scientific
visualization, process visualization etc. They can be very good resources
of inspiration for various design jobs as they solve
communication problems using easy to understand graphics which can be
small icons, pictograms or pictures.

found here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/designlabel/~3/261417177/data-visual...

excellant post btw

[visual think map]

Isometric perspective. Otto neurath developed a picture langauge isotype which was an attempt to remove hierachies inherent in the use of written/spoken langauge. used to highlight commonality, rather than differences interested in human happiness and was an idealistic international language.

'picture langauge as a helping langauge into which statements may be put from all the normal languages of the earth'. p67 left to right: cultural shift from words to pictures, david crow.

picture lang more immediate then words.

Definition

'the isotype signs were mechanical in nature, using silhouettes & preferring isometric projection when illustrating depth. neurath argues that people, children in particular, found true perspective a puzzle that was an obstacle to clear communication. he could not see any educational benefit in the use of perspective in his charts and diagrams, so he removed it in favour of isometric projection - a technique borrowed from mapping. In Isometric projection objects in the foreground appear the same size as to those in the distance' p74 d crow - left to right

his picture lang was not an attempt to replace written lang. it has no qualities for the purpose of exchanging views, signs of felings, orders etc. although i think it could have signs/silhouette in design to symbolise feelings (not very deep ones) and it could be used in support of opinions, although i agree, i couldnt have written this in isotype and have acheived such clarity/communication.

excellant examples of isotype perspective:

3d cv map - http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=2168552%3APhoto%...
eco foot prints - http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/photo/eco-footprints
new job - http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/photo/2168552:Photo:1861

reasons to lose weight video - http://visualthinkmap.ning.com/video/reasons-to-lose-weight