Practices:Visualization
From FORwiki
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Visualization is a tool to generate knowledge in a different way than text, conversation.
They can be used in all steps of a foresight process.
Types of visualization: technical drawing (conventional drawing that is in a common language and communicated specific information from one actor to another), sketch (fuzzy, imprecise, work in progress, drawing as a tool to elaborate your ideas), rendering (realistic visualization, 3D images as if the object was real, in a real context, e.g. automobile ad). One priority for visualization is something that falls in between a sketch and a rendering. The closer you get to a rendering, the less space you leave for people to comment and adapt. When you show a fixed realistic image to a user, they can basically say, "I like" or "I don't like." Whereas if you show people something rougher, less precise, the more difficult it is for people to project themselves into a new reality. This also leaves you space for interpretation. So rough visualizations come at the beginning of a study, whereas at the end you use something more final. There should be a balance between simulation and descriptive, open capabilities. "Realistic enough" to involve people and enable them to project themselves into a future, and at the same time "open enough" to imagine.
Visualization as a final illustration: e.g., images of three different university types in Romanian Higher Education. These images reflect the end of a conversation about university prototypes. The images are also to be used in discussion forums of each university prototype.