← VCE Data Analytics U3O2

Infographics and dynamic data visualisations

A data display the viewer can change with filters or slicers, unlike a fixed infographic, so each user can explore the data and answer their own questions.

Part of: VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 125

Understanding Infographics and dynamic data visualisations in VCE Data Analytics U3O2

What it does: A fixed poster with one message suits an audience that only needs to read the finding, not explore the data. A slicer lets the viewer choose which region is shown, which is what makes a dashboard dynamic. Both can use charts. The difference is that a dynamic visualisation can be changed by the viewer, while an infographic is fixed. Different questions need different views of the data. An interactive dashboard lets the principal change the view without a new design. Slicers let each user filter the data to suit their own question. A fixed view for everyone describes an infographic.

Common mistakes: A display that is fixed and has no slicers is an infographic, not a dashboard. Line 1 should be type ← "infographic". A printed poster cannot be filtered by the viewer, so it must be a static infographic. Line 3 should set type to "infographic".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 76–146) and word search (Modules 3–146).

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Learning
Duo
A poster showing school canteen sales for Term 1, saved as a PDF that cannot be changed. What is it?
A static infographicA dynamic data visualisation
Matches
A printed infographic with a slicer so viewers can filter the data
↓
A printed infographic is static, so it cannot have a working slicer. Slicers and filters belong in a dynamic data visualisation.
Applying
Meanings
Term
dynamic data visualisation
Meaning
A data display the viewer can change with filters or slicers, unlike a fixed infographic, so each user can explore the data and answer their own questions.
Practice
BEGIN
Testing
Gaps
< src="infographic.png" alt="Sales 2024">
Check Answer
Spots
1type ← "dashboard"
2fixed ← TRUE

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Quick Questions

1. A poster showing school canteen sales for Term 1, saved as a PDF that cannot be changed. What is it?
A. A dynamic data visualisation
B. A static infographic ✓
A fixed visual that looks the same for every viewer is a static infographic. The viewer cannot change what is shown.
2. Which one lets the viewer click a slicer to switch between Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 results?
A. A static infographic
B. A dynamic data visualisation ✓
Slicers and filters let the viewer change what is shown. That is the key feature of a dynamic data visualisation.
3. What is the main difference between an infographic and a dynamic data visualisation?
A. A dynamic visualisation lets the viewer change what is shown ✓
B. A dynamic visualisation never uses charts
Both can use charts. The difference is that a dynamic visualisation can be changed by the viewer, while an infographic is fixed.
4. A principal wants to explore attendance by year level, then by month, then by class. Which suits this need best?
A. An interactive dashboard with filters ✓
B. A single printed infographic
Different questions need different views of the data. An interactive dashboard lets the principal change the view without a new design.
5. You need to hand out one clear summary of survey results at a parent night, printed on A4. Which is the better choice?
A. A static infographic ✓
B. An interactive dashboard
Printed media cannot respond to clicks, so a static infographic suits a fixed message for a broad audience.

Match the Pairs

Infographic → A static visual that presents a fixed set of data and a set message. The viewer cannot change what is shown.
Dynamic data visualisation → A display the viewer can change using filters or slicers, so they can explore the data and answer their own questions.
Use a static infographic to send one clear message to a wide audience, such as a printed poster of this year's results. → Poster: 'Recycling rose 12% in 2024'
Use an interactive dashboard when users need to filter the data to answer their own questions, such as sales by region. → Slicer: Region = Vic, NSW, Qld
A printed infographic with a slicer so viewers can filter the data → A printed infographic is static, so it cannot have a working slicer. Slicers and filters belong in a dynamic data visualisation.
A dashboard with filters is a static infographic because it shows data → Showing data does not make a display static. A dashboard with filters lets the viewer change what is shown, so it is dynamic.

Key Term

dynamic data visualisation
A data display the viewer can change with filters or slicers, unlike a fixed infographic, so each user can explore the data and answer their own questions.

Fill in the Blanks

1. <img src="infographic.png" alt="Sales 2024">
Hint: Type the HTML tag that places a fixed picture on a page, like a static infographic.
2. <select id="yearSlicer">
Hint: Type the HTML tag for a drop-down list the viewer uses to change what is shown.
3. SELECT * FROM sales WHERE year = 2024;
Hint: Type the SQL keyword that filters rows, like a slicer choice narrowing a dynamic visualisation.
4. =SUMIFS(C2:C9,B2:B9,F1)
Hint: Type the cell reference holding the viewer's selected category, so the result changes when they pick another.
5. IF needsExploring = TRUE THEN show dashboard ELSE show infographic
Hint: Type the keyword for the alternative path, used when the viewer does not need to explore the data.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A type ← "dashboard"
B fixed ← TRUE
C slicers ← 0
D OUTPUT type
Line A — A display that is fixed and has no slicers is an infographic, not a dashboard. Line 1 should be type ← "infographic".
Question 2
A poster ← TRUE
B IF poster = TRUE
C type ← "dashboard"
D END IF
Line C — A printed poster cannot be filtered by the viewer, so it must be a static infographic. Line 3 should set type to "infographic".
Question 3
A SET slicer TO Year
B ADD slicer TO dashboard
C viewer CLICKS 2024
D chart SHOWS all years
Line D — A slicer filters the data, so after the viewer picks 2024 the chart shows only 2024. Line 4 should be chart SHOWS only 2024.
Question 4
A infographic ← poster image
B viewer CLICKS a bar
C display UPDATES to that bar
D OUTPUT same image
Line C — An infographic is a fixed visual, so clicking it changes nothing. Line 3 should be display DOES NOT CHANGE.
Question 5
A dashboard.interactive ← FALSE
B dashboard.slicers ← 2
C dashboard.filters ← TRUE
Line A — A dynamic dashboard lets the viewer change what is shown, so interactive must be TRUE. Line 1 should be dashboard.interactive ← TRUE.

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