From ancient times to modern: realizing the power of data visualization in healthcare and medicine

Abstract

Abstract Data visuals (scientific images) display and express various amounts and types of information, and, as the saying goes,“an image is worth 1,000 words.” Based on a review of two studies, a new estimation of how many words an image is actually worth was calculated in an attempt to quantify the complicated biological process of image perception. The result revealed that an image is actually worth more than 30,000 words. This new value estimation provides insight into the power of images. Given that figures, graphs, and data visualizations are types of images commonly used in research and publications, every produced figure is important and must be carefully considered during the publication process.

Keywords

• Visual communication
• Information graphics
• Descriptive figures
• Visual perception
• Knowledge translation