tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post1215889805604765077..comments2024-03-28T03:27:07.147+00:00Comments on VizWiz: Pie charts aren't always evil. A confession of a hypocrite.VizWizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11408220384219218043noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-35893614983833823742012-02-11T03:01:33.296+00:002012-02-11T03:01:33.296+00:00Timely topic Andy - I actually used 4 pie charts i...Timely topic Andy - I actually used 4 pie charts in a presentation to a customer last week - first time for years.<br /><br />They worked well, and exact percentages were less than important - just the ratios.<br /><br />Still felt a little dirty though.Alex Kerinhttp://www.datadrivenconsulting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-51092563974242819212012-02-09T08:56:08.355+00:002012-02-09T08:56:08.355+00:00I've found the best reason for using a pie cha...I've found the best reason for using a pie chart is when there is a need to obfuscate the relationship. <br /><br />In one case, pie charts were chosen so that the speaker could use the pie chart as a reminder of topics to discuss. In this case, the purpose was to show data relationships, but rather to engender discussion about a topic without focusing on exactly how much bigger/smaller oneBrad Earlehttp://gravatar.com/vizwhiznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-23320701388895464632012-02-06T17:32:22.368+00:002012-02-06T17:32:22.368+00:00Andy,
Thanks for encouragement. I will go back t...Andy,<br /><br />Thanks for encouragement. I will go back to some of the dashboards I have been working on and take a look to see how a stack bar chart by percentage would look instead of a pie chart.<br /><br />I might play around with the stacked area chart as well now that Tableau offers that as an option.<br /><br />Thanks again for your blogging.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09493345809901120130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-57691722133897046712012-02-06T16:49:20.578+00:002012-02-06T16:49:20.578+00:00Hi Andy,
Thanks - laying out the different option...Hi Andy,<br /><br />Thanks - laying out the different options for visualizing this mix change over time is helpful. <br /><br />I, too, use pie charts from time to time (cue Pachelbel's Canon) but preferred your stack-bar chart example at the end of the post. It's easier to see the magnitude of the % change of EDV, for example, with bars than it is with pie wedges.<br /><br />The stacked Ben Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08400208905621353042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-87025712655068322872012-02-06T15:40:57.092+00:002012-02-06T15:40:57.092+00:00I love it Jon!I love it Jon!VizWizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11408220384219218043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-25306234115835156082012-02-06T15:25:39.620+00:002012-02-06T15:25:39.620+00:00Well, I hate pie charts too, but I once did about ...Well, I hate pie charts too, but I once did about 260 of them on one visual, and found it actually worked together in what I'd call Charting Serendipity! <br /><br />http://jonboeckenstedt.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/data-visualization-serendipity/Jon Boeckenstedthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18413093427622310323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-74569883226321900362012-02-06T15:20:34.794+00:002012-02-06T15:20:34.794+00:00Robert,
If I can be frank, I don't like the o...Robert,<br /><br />If I can be frank, I don't like the old "it's what people are used to argument". I have found that once you display the data more effectively, people turn the corner. Don't give up.<br /><br />If you have multiple years, but still need to display a parts to show relationship, I like the stacked bar/area chart option because it gives you both the % of VizWizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11408220384219218043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-78191807435312371692012-02-06T15:10:42.892+00:002012-02-06T15:10:42.892+00:00Thank you for this post. I have been compelled to...Thank you for this post. I have been compelled to use pie charts at work but only because that is what people are used to and ask for. Though I only use them when I have a manageable number of categories and the pie charts are not ugly and confusing.<br /><br />I agree with your use of the stacked bar chart using percentages. In your specific example, however, you only have two years. Very Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09493345809901120130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3998628784041768080.post-72756411284302879072012-02-06T15:07:11.475+00:002012-02-06T15:07:11.475+00:00Hey Andy,
I too admittedly find myself to be a hy...Hey Andy,<br /><br />I too admittedly find myself to be a hypocrite in this occasionally.<br /><br />If the results are very binary, the pie can be a reasonable medium for providing that "part to whole" understanding.<br /><br />I still strongly believe that we should avoid the use of pies in period over period comparisons.<br /><br />Good post to allow people various perspectives.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13279463683837603962noreply@blogger.com