section, which deals with techniques of cost-benefit analysis Information Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Refer-ence could be considered, if nothing else, simply wonderfullyfor information. The conceptual basis for making cost-benefit

decisions is well-articulated, but techniques for gathering and true to its title. It is, however, much more than that. The authorpresents the techniques that focus on the distinction betweenanalyzing the data to perform such analyses are given a more

cursory treatment. presentation and operational graphics, with an emphasis on thelatter. He takes operational graphics to be those visual displaysOne example of this concerns the author’s treatment of pres-

ent value as a decision-making technique. The author explains that help in ‘‘solving problems, planning, teaching, training,monitoring processes, studying the geographic distribution ofpresent value solely as a computational technique. There is

nothing conceptually wrong with this treatment; however, pres- data’’ and in understanding ‘‘how they are being used, how toconstruct them, and how to interpret them’’ (p. 3) . This empha-ent value is more commonly and easily understood and practiced

through the application of present value tables, which could sis on operational graphics should be commended and encour-aged since the techniques shown in the book permit us to makeeasily have been included.

Similarly, the author notes briefly that estimating system sense of the data we have.The organization of the book is clear and consistent. A mas-costs (particularly opportunity costs) and benefits is a knotty

problem, but minimizes the conceptual and operational prob- ter alphabetical listing lets readers locate a specific technique.The cross-referencing method ensures that the readers find thelems of estimating the costs and benefits for information ser-

vices. In fairness to the author, this is a universal problem in chart, table, diagram, graph, or map they seek. Additionally,because of the way the book is structured, readers find not onlythe economics, finance, and accounting of information services.

However, given the author’s assertion for the primacy of eco- a specific technique but also one or more related techniques.Recognizing that certain types of information can be more ap-nomics as a decision-making science, one is left wishing for

more specific techniques for applying it to actual decisions. propriately displayed using one technique over another, e.g.,percent-of-the-whole data generally benefit from sector or pieThis is not to disparage the quality of the book, which, as

noted above is high, but to recognize that any introductory text charts, the various techniques are placed in appropriate group-ings. The narrative descriptions of each entry provide varyinghas limitations in discussing its subject matter, especially for a

discipline as wide-reaching as economics. The text is recom- degrees of guidance in their use, interpretation, and construc-tion. From the ordinary (pie charts) , to the unusual (Ishikawamended for university courses that deal with information eco-

nomics, or as a good introduction to information economics for diagram), readers are likely to find the tool(s) they need. Thisapplies to readers from nearly every academic field and to prac-those who are unfamiliar with the discipline.titioners in the public as well as private sectors. Also noteworthyis the author’s inclusion of definitions and instructions for,among other topics, labels, fonts, grids, and scales.

Herbert Snyder Casual readers could come away with the impression thatSchool of Library and Information Science the volume is redundant. In fact, there are many instances where011 Main Library, 10th and Jordan Sts. the same table, graph, or chart appears on several pages. CarefulIndiana University reading of the narrative accompanying these entries, however,Bloomington, IN 47405 will disabuse them of that notion. What is actually taking placeTel: 812-855-5113 is that the author is providing insight into a variety of applica-E-mail: Hsnyder@Indiana.edu tions to which information graphics can be put. The narrative

definitions are clearly written and provide sufficient guidancefor readers to feel comfortable in using the technique described.

The author pays respect to the advances in computer technol-ogy that puts the creation of these various graphical methodsin the hands of beginners and experts alike. It is here, from theInformation Graphics: A Comprehensive Illustrated Refer-perspective of what Tufte (1983) defines as graphical integrityence. Robert L. Harris. Atlanta, GA: Management Graphics;and graphical excellence, that I confess to feeling a degree of1996: 448 pp. Price: $60.00. (ISBN 0-9646925-0-3.)unease. The electronic manipulation and representation of datais indeed an easy task. Select some data in a spreadsheet, thenWhile we generally accept that we live in the age of informa-click on the graph button, and the user is guided through thetion, the phrase is misleading. In fact, we live in the age of data.preparation of a graphic representation of the data. If the userAlthough data can be information, this is not fundamentally so.accepts the default choices, there is no guarantee that the re-To qualify as information, the data must have meaning. There-sulting graphic is appropriate for the data being displayed.fore, while we may quibble about definitions, we can resolve

Many of the graphical methods presented require that thethe problem rather easily by asking if the data make sense. Ifconstructor have some basic mathematical or statistical under-the characters, symbols, and/or numbers you receive do notstanding of how to analyze the data. Lacking such an under-make sense, they are then data. Making sense out of thesestanding can put that individual in the position of unintention-data is one of the objectives of the volume reviewed. Withally preparing, at best, inappropriate depictions of the data, or,the advances in computer technology giving individuals theat worst, misleading graphics. I suspect that having read Huffcapability of obtaining ever more data with only a few simple(1954), without intending to blame him, is another part of themouse clicks, we are encountering data overload. The amountreason for this unease. His position is that when words aloneof data generally exceed our ability to make sense out of themdo not convey the intended message, and numbers are more aptin the form in which they are usually presented. There is infor-to terrify than inform, you can resort to graphics. Implicit inmation in the data that simply needs to be discovered. Indeed,much of his reasoning was the idea that one need not paymany of us are engaged in transforming data into somethingparticular attention to the truth of the data; just make it under-useful, something that will inform, in other words, into informa-standable. A related work by Monmonier (1996) simply addstion. Unless and until raw data are made comprehensible theremapping (also well covered in the present book) to the myriadis no information. Identifying techniques that will help accom-of techniques that one may employ to obfuscate or mislead.plish this discovery and transform data into information is given

The author states in his discussion of the volume’s organiza-a large boost with the publication of Robert L. Harris’s newbook. tion and content that there are methods for presenting informa-

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tion that regularly misrepresent or intentionally deceive. To his Ergonomics and Safety of Intelligent Driver Interfaces. Y.Ian Noy, ed. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; 1997: 432 pp.credit, there are instances where his narrative does address this

issue and provides direction to an alternative. However, in the Price: $45.00. (ISBN 0-8058-1956-8.)same section, Harris suggests that understanding the construc-tion and function of the various graphs, charts, and maps is The current interest in intelligent information systems (ITS)enough. Simply knowing how to build a chart, diagram, or grew out of a realization that we could not continue to buildtable, or knowing what it is supposed to do, does not necessarily our way out of the problems caused by traffic congestion. Itresult in providing information to the viewer. It is experience was hoped that through the application of new technology, par-with the data and knowledge of its structure that generally result ticularly in the information and communication areas, we couldin appropriate graphical displays. Recognizing that this is, after reduce congestion and increase safety through more efficientall, a reference book does provide some consolation to my use of existing transportation facilities. Deployment scenariosinitial unease. Although the author claims that this volume is for this worldwide effort propose a major role for private enter-accessible to novices—and it is—I suspect he may feel the prise, with ITS America estimating a 20-year cost of $210 bil-target audience to be more experienced in developing graphical lion, $170 billion of which from private sources and $40 billioninformation. from public sources. In other words, the success of ITS hinges

I would be disappointed if the foregoing comments were on the creation of products and services that consumers findtaken as negative criticism of Harris’ work. He should not be useful and desirable.faulted for making the wide range of information graphics ac- Despite some unevenness among its 23 articles, despite thecessible to the naive user. Rather, the naive user is admonished inclusion of a number of articles that fail to provide specific,to study carefully the entries and discussions of the correlation useful results and conclusions, and despite its being somewhatgraph and the use of logarithmic graphs, which are excellent. dated even in the year of its release, Ergonomics and Safety ofThe same can be said about the entries related to the terms Intelligent Driver Interfaces is still an important collection. Itgraph and table. Discussions about the use of color and the is important because the work as a whole portrays the varietyimplications of certain styles of data presentation provide fur- and complexity of issues involved in the application of user-ther guidance in the construction and use of information graph- centered design to the development of ITS products and ser-ics. Thoughtfully, the author provides a brief but valuable bibli- vices. It is important because the articles address the right ques-ography. Here, too, is a source of additional help for those tions, even if they do not always provide the answers. It is alsomaking their initial foray into the world of information graphics. important because the articles continually remind us that new

This volume should be required reading for all who intend developments in information and communication technology doto use graphical methods to analyze and transform data into not automatically translate into usable, functional, or desirableinformation and to obtain meaning. As the currently loose con- products and services. To accomplish this, there needs to be afederation of individuals engaged in promoting data visualiza- central focus on the end user throughout the design and develop-tion and information mapping as critical thinking and problem- ment process.solving skills coalesces, this volume should come to serve as The wide range of issues covered by the 23 articles ( individ-one of their primary references. The breadth of coverage show- ually referred to here by their chapter number) is one of theing both the oldest and newest methods will keep this reference collection’s greatest strengths. Articles 8, 10, 11, and 17 explorework relevant for many years to come. issues of information design and delivery, including legibility,

The author has performed an extraordinary service for all comprehension, presentation, timing, mode (e.g., audio vs. vi-who seek information in the cluttered landscape of data. As he sual) , and control (e.g., automatic vs. interactive); articles 5,knows, the increasing quantity of information poses difficulties 6, 14, 15, and 22 explore more safety-related issues such asfor those trying to make sense of it. And as we all know, the attention and distraction; articles 1, 12, 18, and 20 explore issuesmanner by which we apprehend most of our information is of user preference, performance, and tolerance for error; articlesvisual. It should be possible, then, to determine whether or not 2, 7, and 23 focus on design tools, guidelines, and standards;there are tools or techniques that permit the consolidation of articles 4 and 16 explore users’ cognitive understanding of basicthese massive amounts of information by taking advantage of information elements; while articles 3, 9, 13, 19, and 21 arethe inherent visual processing capabilities of the human brain. more descriptive, definitional, and exploratory of the nature,Harris’ book helps us select and use those tools. practice, and possibilities of ergonomics for in-vehicle systems.

The collection as a whole also demonstrates a range of meth-odological approaches, including extensive use of simulatorsand simulation, field trials with instrumented vehicles, labora-tory studies of actual systems and prototypes, and expert analy-

Robert D. Wilson sis. Unfortunately, there is no use of usability testing, an im-California State University–San Bernardino portant tool in the user-centered design of information and inter-Department of Information and Decision Sciences faces. This omission reflects a bias toward engineering at the5500 University Parkway expense of other disciplines (e.g., technical communication,San Bernardino, CA 92407 information science) which also have much to contribute to theE-mail: wilson@wiley.csusb.edu; 5thsurg@msn.com design of usable and functional information products. (For a

good introduction to usability testing, see A Practical Guide toUsability Testing. J. Dumas and J. Redish. Norwood, NJ: AblexPublishing; 1994.)

References The weakest part of the collection is the general lack ofconclusive work. Many of the articles, particularly the laterones, describe vague results and conclusions with little utility.Huff, D. (1954). How to lie with statistics. New York: W. W. Norton &

Company, Inc. The lack of definitive work reported in this collection is due inpart to the relatively recent application of ergonomic techniquesMonmonier, M. (1996). How to lie with maps. Chicago: The University

of Chicago Press. to the issues presented by the design and development of ITSsystems. Instead, the collection devotes a lot of attention toTufte, E. (1983). The visual display of quantitative information. Chesh-

ire, CT: Graphics Press. methodological issues that make these studies difficult to design

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