Tools
Contenido
Existen multitud de herramientas útiles para llevar a cabo el proceso de visualización de datos. Entre ellas, se pueden destacar las siguientes:.
Lightning Chart
LightningChart is a plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio,[6] used to implement data visualizations in applications developed in WPF and Windows Forms. Popular for its fluidity,[7] it supports graphs with more than one billion data points at the same time, updated in real time.[8] It has a library with more than 100 types of different and customizable graphs, in 2D and 3D. Its components for data visualization are used in programs and devices in all types of fields and industries.[9].
SAS Visual Analytics
SAS Visual Analytics provides greater analytical capabilities from any amount of data, allowing you to perform exploratory data analysis. No need to create subsets or samples of data. Thanks to its high-performance functions, you can use all your data, large or small volumes, to obtain precise insights much faster than was possible until now.
Tableau
Tableau Software is one of the data visualization tools most used by users today, essentially due to the ease of use of all its functions. Although in principle there is a paid version, it can also be used for free, obtaining professional graphics without the need to pay, but with limitations when entering excess data. Due to its simplicity and speed of use, it makes it accessible to everyone without the need to master programming. For all this, it is considered the leading data visualization tool.
It allows you to create reports, dashboards and graphs of different types and shapes that change in real time, as you enter data. Also, it gives us the possibility of adding extra information, such as inserting documents or websites, that will accompany the data.[10][11].
QlikView
Like Tableau, QlikView is quite easy to use and allows you to use and enter a large amount of data, which can come from different formats. Once entered, they can be manipulated and organized freely according to how they want to be presented, to achieve the final objective, which is to obtain an attractive way of visualizing amounts of data. Among its most notable features is having the data integrated into the dashboard itself, making it possible to work with it without the need to be connected to the source from which it comes. One of the strong points of QlikView is that it is not necessary to master the tool, as it is quite intuitive.
Gephi
It is an open source program for viewing and querying graphs. In addition, Gephi allows you to handle large graphs with good quality, something not common in this type of tools. Gephi gives the user the possibility of grouping graph nodes, coloring them, giving them sizes proportional to indicators, etc. Its main goal is to help data analysts make hypotheses, isolate data structures or discover patterns in an intuitive way. Among its features, it includes dynamic data analysis, the creation of cartography and the use of pre-established metrics.[12] Finally, the results can be exported via PDF or SVG, the latter with the possibility of being reused in other software for the preferred purpose. If an additional feature is needed, you can use Plugins, as if it were a browser.[13].
Many Eyes
It is a free tool[14] created by the IBM company that offers 2 possibilities: browse between existing data or use data created by yourself. Many Eyes[15] allows conversation around a visualization, that is, users can provide their opinions on the graphs and propose other approaches based on the same data. With this, it is possible to enrich the content to the maximum and take advantage of the data to be able to understand it in the best possible way. Another interesting aspect of this application is its public domain, since it cannot be used privately. The procedure is very simple, since it is based on uploading the data and choosing a type of visualization. Then the system performs its calculations and offers the results.
[16].
Google Fusion Table
It is an experimental data visualization web application for collecting, visualizing and sharing data tables. It is a web service provided by Google since 2009 for data management or Web Mapping, which allows the storage of data in visible and downloadable tables among Internet users -exported in file format-, through pie charts, bar charts, scatter diagrams, timelines, and geographic maps (Google Maps). The Guardian applies Fusion Tables in El DataBlog Guardian, and to produce visualizations using the API, for which it has received the Online Journalism award in the United Kingdom. Other media that apply Fusion Tables are the Palm Beach Post in Florida, the Texas Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times in California.
Quadrigram
It is a visual programming software that runs in the browser itself, which allows you to easily build and share interactive data visualization projects through a system of interconnected modules, applying an operation or control to the data flow of each module, which allows you to personalize, iterate and prototype interactive solutions based on data extracted from analysis processes. The application contains a collection of examples of pre-developed templates for monitoring, analyzing, investigating and communicating with data, easily transformable into a custom project for analyzing data. Interactive and combinable data visualizations can be created, choosing from a wide range of tools. The program has more than 50 types of interactive graphs, from bars to more complex systems of trees or pictograms. Using graphic, text, and image templates also allows you to easily publish your work as a web page or on Quadrigram's own server. In addition, the platform allows projects to be exported and downloaded as original source code, to then freely edit and upload to servers, and offers accounts for various types of users, with the possibility of trying it for free for a month.[17][18][19][20].
nodebox
It is an open source tool for the Mac OS X operating system. This application is designed to create 2D graphics, both static and dynamic. Nodebox uses Python programming code, which can be a disadvantage compared to other programs because you have to know said code. Its large capacity allows you to work with a large amount of data. Additionally, your files can be exported to different types of formats, such as PDF or QuickTime movie. Nodebox documents are created thanks to nodes connected to each other.[21][22][23].
R
It is an open source statistical tool developed by Bell Laboratories. It runs on a variety of platforms such as Mac, UNIX or Windows. It is focused on creating statistical graphs and data analysis. It is a very powerful program that can support large volumes of data and extensive libraries. R is a very complex tool since programming knowledge is required to use it. This tool uses the R language, similar to the S language also developed by Bell Laboratories. Advanced users can also make use of the C language for more complex tasks. R has its own documentation format both online and on paper.[24][25].
Infogr.am
It is an Internet service for creating and sharing data visualization for both experts and beginners. It allows you to create infographics, information visualizations and data representation schemes in a useful and eye-catching way. It is a way of developing ideas through graphics with icons, arrows and colors. It is a tool that has a file to share works of all kinds with other people. Infographics can be uploaded, marked by topics and ideas, as well as archiving images that take up a lot of space through codes. This provides more speed as long as the program works correctly.[26].
D3 Data Driven Documents
It is a visual storytelling tool, a JavaScript library for data-driven document manipulation. D3 allows you to bind data to a Model in Objects for the Representation of Documents (DOM) and apply transformations to the document. It is an open source program that makes it possible to expose the capabilities of web standards such as HTML, SVG and CSS. It involves minimal expenditure, is fast and allows dynamic interaction and animation behaviors. It facilitates reuse through components or "plugins" and works with any modern browser, including systems such as Android and iOS.[27][28].
Visionaris
It is a simple and complete data visualization tool that allows the end user to create dashboards and various graphs that update in real time, as data is entered.[29].