Tufte and Classification

One of the most fascinating classes I am taking this semester is IST 631 - Theory of Classification and Subject Representation, with Dr. Barbara Kwasinik. The class examines some of the psychology and methodology behind classifications, as well as best practices and implementation of the human act of classification. It's great looking at an intersection between my professional interests, as well as my broader personal interests (psychology, sociology, et cetera). Here's the official description, if you are so inclined:

Classification is a fundamental human activity as is forming an abstract representation of verbal information. Theoretical basis of classification and subject representation, attempts to automate these activities.

One of our assingments for the semester is to review a book about classification. I chose to review Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative by Edward R. Tufte. I just finished reading the book, and I want to share some thoughts with you about this book.



Of course, if you are familiar with Tufte's work, you know he primarily deals with the representation and visual display of information. As a matter of fact, he wrote the book about the visual display of quantitative information. So, then, how does the book I reviewed deal with classification? This is something I undertook to examine when I picked the book, and I would like to share a couple of points with you I wrote down.

Tufte points out in chapter three of the book that information design makes verbs visible. Of course, as I was searching for ways the book relates to classification I thought that classification does the same thing - in a way. Classifications show both relations and help to illustrate verbs. They are descriptive not only of that which they classify, but also of the person or group that creates the classification. That is, classifications give substance to ephemeral connections we manufacture between items - be they friends, cars, trees, or even books. Furthermore, they also illustrate the connections between people, objects, knowledge, and really all things around and inside of us. There are many more interesting nuggets from the book, which I might share at some point in my PowerPoint I need to write this week for class about the book.

Anyhow, here's a lovely video by Mr. Tufte. Enjoy!