← VCE Data Analytics U3O1

Dynamic data visualisations

An interactive visual linked to live data, so charts update when the data changes or the user refreshes it or uses controls like filters.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 106

Understanding Dynamic data visualisations in VCE Data Analytics U3O1

What it does: The formula pulls data from an online source, so the chart built on it updates when the source changes. The chart is linked to the sensor data, so new readings flow through to the visual. User controls such as slicers, filters and drop-down lists let the viewer change what the visual shows. A screenshot cannot be interacted with. The dashboard is linked to data and has controls. A printed poster is fixed and cannot update. Dynamic visualisations suit data that changes often, because they keep the visual up to date without being rebuilt. To be dynamic, the chart must stay connected to the live data, not be pasted as an image.

Common mistakes: A dynamic visualisation redraws when the data is refreshed. Deleting the chart removes it. The line should be ON refresh: UPDATE chart. The chart must be built from the live connection (source). A fixed snapshot never changes, so the chart would not update. It should be bar_chart(source).

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 94–128) and word search (Modules 94–148).

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Learning
Duo
Which best describes a dynamic data visualisation?
It is connected to live data and updates when the data changesIt is a fixed image that never changes once it is saved
Matches
Chart pasted as a picture (PNG) from the data
↓
A pasted picture is static. It has no link to the data, so it never updates when the data changes.
Applying
Meanings
Term
dynamic data visualisation
Meaning
An interactive visual linked to live data, so charts update when the data changes or the user refreshes it or uses controls like filters.
Practice
=COUNTIF(D2:D8,">=5")
Testing
Gaps
=(B2:B9)
Check Answer
Spots
2CONNECT chart TO source
3ON refresh: DELETE chart

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Quick Questions

1. Which best describes a dynamic data visualisation?
A. It is connected to live data and updates when the data changes ✓
B. It is a fixed image that never changes once it is saved
A dynamic visualisation is linked to a data source, so the visual updates as the data changes. A static one stays the same.
2. A weather dashboard is linked to a sensor feed. When a new reading arrives, the chart changes. What is this showing?
A. A live data connection ✓
B. A static image
The chart is linked to the sensor data, so new readings flow through to the visual.
3. A student changes a value in the source table. What should happen in a dynamic chart linked to that table?
A. The chart stays exactly the same forever
B. The chart updates after a refresh (or automatically) ✓
Dynamic charts reflect changes in the source data, either automatically or when the user refreshes them.
4. What does clicking Refresh do in a dynamic visualisation?
A. It reloads the latest data from the source into the visual ✓
B. It deletes the data source and starts again
Refresh pulls the current data from the source so the visual shows up-to-date values.
5. Which is an example of a user control in a dynamic visualisation?
A. A screenshot of the chart pasted into a report
B. A slicer that lets the user pick one year level ✓
User controls such as slicers, filters and drop-down lists let the viewer change what the visual shows. A screenshot cannot be interacted with.

Match the Pairs

Refresh All → Reloads the data connection so charts show the latest values from the source
Slicer: House = Red → A user control that filters the visualisation to show only Red house data
A live data connection links a chart to its source, so new data appears in the chart → =IMPORTDATA("https://data.gov.au/sales.csv")
A dynamic visualisation is built on a table that grows, so charts include new rows automatically → Insert > Table (Sales_Table)
Chart pasted as a picture (PNG) from the data → A pasted picture is static. It has no link to the data, so it never updates when the data changes.
Chart built on fixed range A1:B10 only → The fixed range ignores new rows, so the chart does not show new data and is not fully dynamic.

Key Term

dynamic data visualisation
An interactive visual linked to live data, so charts update when the data changes or the user refreshes it or uses controls like filters.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =SUM(B2:B9)
Hint: Type the function name that totals the range feeding the chart, so the total changes when the data changes.
2. SELECT house, SUM(points) FROM students GROUP BY house;
Hint: Type the two-word SQL keyword that gives each house one row, so the live chart has one bar per house.
3. IF data changes THEN refresh chart
Hint: Type the action that redraws the chart using the latest data.
4. SELECT firstName, points FROM students WHERE house = 'Red';
Hint: Type the keyword that applies the user's filter choice, like a slicer, to limit the rows shown.
5. ="Average mark: "&ROUND(AVERAGE(B2:B9),1)
Hint: Type the operator that joins the label text to the live calculation, so the chart title updates with the data.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A SET source TO live_feed
B CONNECT chart TO source
C ON refresh: DELETE chart
D SHOW chart
Line C — A dynamic visualisation redraws when the data is refreshed. Deleting the chart removes it. The line should be ON refresh: UPDATE chart.
Question 2
A source = connect('sales_db')
B chart = bar_chart(snapshot)
C chart.auto_refresh(60)
Line B — The chart must be built from the live connection (source). A fixed snapshot never changes, so the chart would not update. It should be bar_chart(source).
Question 3
A CREATE dropdown year_filter
B SET chart.data TO live_data
C ON chart CHANGE: REDRAW
Line C — The user control (year_filter) should trigger the redraw. Listening to the chart means that choosing a year does nothing. It should be ON year_filter CHANGE: REDRAW.
Question 4
A PASTE values INTO chart
B EVERY 30 SECONDS: REFRESH
C DISPLAY chart
Line A — Pasting values makes a static copy that cannot update. A dynamic chart needs a live connection: CONNECT chart TO live_data.
Question 5
A live_db = connect('weather')
B chart = line_chart(live_db)
C def update():
D chart.redraw(old_data)
Line D — The update function must redraw using the live data connection. Using old_data redraws stale values. It should be chart.redraw(live_db).

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