A Comprehensive Overview of Visualization Techniques Throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries
The 1950s and 1960s marked a significant turning point in data visualization, as the advent of powerful computing technologies paved the way for interactive and immersive visualization methods.
One of the earliest attempts at immersive visualization technology came with the development of the first head-mounted display (HMD) by Martin Heilig in the late 1950s. This device, though not yet practical, aimed to create a virtual environment experience [1].
In 1961, Philco Corporation introduced the "Headsight," the first head-tracking HMD. This innovation enabled visual tracking of user motion to update the displayed imagery accordingly, a fundamental concept for immersive visualization tools [1].
A major breakthrough came in 1968 when Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull at the University of Utah demonstrated the first interactive computer-generated virtual environment showcased through an HMD. This system, sometimes called the "Sword of Damocles," is considered the first true virtual reality display and a landmark in visualization evolution [1].
Meanwhile, Myron Krueger was developing interactive computer art installations using video and sensor technology. Notable projects include "Glowflow" (early 1970s), which showcased early multi-sensory data visualization and interaction, and "Videoplace" (1975), an early example of networked interactive visualization combining video and computer graphics [1].
These developments reflect foundational advances in interactive data visualization, blending emerging computer graphics, sensor technology, and early virtual reality concepts. They significantly influenced later work in data visualization, human-computer interfaces, and immersive environments.
During this period, new techniques were also developed for graphing discrete, categorical data. In the early 1970s, various forms of statistical representation emerged, including Fourier function plots, Chernoff faces, star plots, clustering and representations, and biplots using multi-dimensional scaling [2].
The rapid advancement of information technology in the 20th century led to a significant boom in information visualization, transforming the way data is presented and analysed.
References: [1] Friendly, M. (2018). A History of Information Visualization. Retrieved from https://www.cs.york.ac.uk/visualisation/history/ [2] Tufte, E. (2021). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Retrieved from https://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/books_vdqi [3] Krueger, M. (2021). Myron Krueger's Early Interactive Art. Retrieved from https://www.myonkrueger.com/early-work/
In the late 1960s, science and technology merged as Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull at the University of Utah created the first true virtual reality display, an interactive computer-generated virtual environment showcased through a head-mounted display (HMD) [1]. By the early 1970s, technology advancements in data-and-cloud-computing led to new techniques for graphing discrete, categorical data, with various forms of statistical representation emerging [2].
