FatFonts: Combining the symbolic and visual aspects of numbers

Miguel Nacenta; Uta Hinrichs; Sheelagh Carpendale

doi:10.1145/2254556.2254636

FatFonts: Combining the symbolic and visual aspects of numbers

Miguel Nacenta, Uta Hinrichs, Sheelagh Carpendale

School of Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

In this paper we explore numeric typeface design for visualization purposes. We introduce FatFonts, a technique for visualizing quantitative data that bridges the gap between numeric and visual representations. FatFonts are based on
Arabic numerals but, unlike regular numeric typefaces, the amount of ink (dark pixels) used for each digit is proportional to its quantitative value. This enables accurate reading of the numerical data while preserving an overall visual
context. We discuss the challenges of this approach that we identified through our design process and propose a set of design goals that include legibility, familiarity, readability, spatial precision, dynamic range, and resolution. We
contribute four FatFont typefaces that are derived from our exploration of the design space that these goals introduce.
Finally, we discuss three example scenarios that show how FatFonts can be used for visualization purposes as valuable representation alternatives.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the International Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	ACM
Pages	407-414
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	9781450312875
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/2254556.2254636
Publication status	Published - 2012

Keywords

Typography
Information Visualization
Number Systems
Redundant Encoding
Scalar Fields
Visual Data Encoding
Scientific Visualization

Access to Document

10.1145/2254556.2254636

NacentaHinrichsCarpendale-FatFonts
© ACM 2012. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive Version of Record was published in the Proceedings of the International Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces (AVI 2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2254556.2254636 The copy of record of the paper can be found in: http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=2254556.2254636
Accepted author manuscript, 4.69 MB

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@inproceedings{7beb2165bb2b4797bfcbc3f45e54b49e,

title = "FatFonts: Combining the symbolic and visual aspects of numbers",

abstract = "In this paper we explore numeric typeface design for visualization purposes. We introduce FatFonts, a technique for visualizing quantitative data that bridges the gap between numeric and visual representations. FatFonts are based on Arabic numerals but, unlike regular numeric typefaces, the amount of ink (dark pixels) used for each digit is proportional to its quantitative value. This enables accurate reading of the numerical data while preserving an overall visual context. We discuss the challenges of this approach that we identified through our design process and propose a set of design goals that include legibility, familiarity, readability, spatial precision, dynamic range, and resolution. We contribute four FatFont typefaces that are derived from our exploration of the design space that these goals introduce. Finally, we discuss three example scenarios that show how FatFonts can be used for visualization purposes as valuable representation alternatives.",

keywords = "Typography, Information Visualization, Number Systems, Redundant Encoding, Scalar Fields, Visual Data Encoding, Scientific Visualization",

author = "Miguel Nacenta and Uta Hinrichs and Sheelagh Carpendale",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1145/2254556.2254636",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781450312875",

pages = "407--414",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the International Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces",

publisher = "ACM",

address = "United States",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - FatFonts

T2 - Combining the symbolic and visual aspects of numbers

AU - Nacenta, Miguel

AU - Hinrichs, Uta

AU - Carpendale, Sheelagh

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - In this paper we explore numeric typeface design for visualization purposes. We introduce FatFonts, a technique for visualizing quantitative data that bridges the gap between numeric and visual representations. FatFonts are based on Arabic numerals but, unlike regular numeric typefaces, the amount of ink (dark pixels) used for each digit is proportional to its quantitative value. This enables accurate reading of the numerical data while preserving an overall visual context. We discuss the challenges of this approach that we identified through our design process and propose a set of design goals that include legibility, familiarity, readability, spatial precision, dynamic range, and resolution. We contribute four FatFont typefaces that are derived from our exploration of the design space that these goals introduce. Finally, we discuss three example scenarios that show how FatFonts can be used for visualization purposes as valuable representation alternatives.

AB - In this paper we explore numeric typeface design for visualization purposes. We introduce FatFonts, a technique for visualizing quantitative data that bridges the gap between numeric and visual representations. FatFonts are based on Arabic numerals but, unlike regular numeric typefaces, the amount of ink (dark pixels) used for each digit is proportional to its quantitative value. This enables accurate reading of the numerical data while preserving an overall visual context. We discuss the challenges of this approach that we identified through our design process and propose a set of design goals that include legibility, familiarity, readability, spatial precision, dynamic range, and resolution. We contribute four FatFont typefaces that are derived from our exploration of the design space that these goals introduce. Finally, we discuss three example scenarios that show how FatFonts can be used for visualization purposes as valuable representation alternatives.

KW - Typography

KW - Information Visualization

KW - Number Systems

KW - Redundant Encoding

KW - Scalar Fields

KW - Visual Data Encoding

KW - Scientific Visualization

UR - http://fatfonts.org

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84863596402

U2 - 10.1145/2254556.2254636

DO - 10.1145/2254556.2254636

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9781450312875

SP - 407

EP - 414

BT - Proceedings of the International Working Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces

PB - ACM

CY - New York

ER -

FatFonts: Combining the symbolic and visual aspects of numbers

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Reading small scalar data fields: color scales vs. Detail on Demand vs. FatFonts

Cite this