Dr. Szafir's research bridges data science, information visualization, and visual cognition to model the kinds of information people intuitively extract from data visualizations. Through this process, she derives quantified insight into the role of perception in interpreting visualizations and other visual interfaces by gauging how real viewers in natural environments perceive encoded information. She uses these models to develop novel interactive systems that support more accurate data exploration at dramatically larger scales than previously possible and that couple expert analysis with automated methods like interactive machine learning. The resulting systems address research problems across a variety of domains, including earth science, defense, emergency response, biochemistry, and the humanities. Her work also extends these practices to novel interface technologies to generate a foundational understanding of effective application design grounded in human perception and cognition.
keywords
information visualization, perceptual computing, augmented reality, human-computer interaction, exploratory data analysis, visual cognition, perception, color science, crowdsourcing, digital humanities, bioinformatics
ATLS 4519 - Advanced Special Topics
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020
Analyzes special interest areas of multidisciplinary creative technology and design research and practice. May be repeated up to 32 total credit hours.
CSCA 5702 - Fundamentals of Data Visualization
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2024 / Summer 2024 / Fall 2024
Explores the design, development, and evaluation of information visualizations. Combine aspects of design, computer graphics, HCI, and data science, to gain hands-on experience with creating visualizations, using exploratory tools, and architecting data narratives. Topics include user-centered design, web-based visualization, data cognition and perception, and design evaluation. Same as DTSA 5304.
CSCI 4950 - Senior Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021 / Spring 2022
Provides an opportunity for senior computer science majors to conduct exploratory research in computer science as an option for the capstone requirement. Department enforced prerequisites: 35 hours of Computer Science coursework including Foundation courses, Upper-Division writing, CS GPA 3.0. Department consent required, contact academic advisor for details. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours.
DTSA 5304 - Fundamentals of Data Visualization
Primary Instructor
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Summer 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Summer 2022 / Fall 2022
Explores the design, development, and evaluation of information visualizations. Combine aspects of design, computer graphics, HCI, and data science, to gain hands-on experience with creating visualizations, using exploratory tools, and architecting data narratives. Topics include user-centered design, web-based visualization, data cognition and perception, and design evaluation. Same as CSCA 5702.
INFO 3401 - Information Exploration
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Spring 2020
Teaches students how to use information to identify interesting real world problems and to generate insight. Students will learn to find, collect, assemble and organize data to inspire new questions, make predictions, generate deliverables, and work towards solutions. They will learn to appropriately apply different methods (including computational, statistical and qualitative) for exploratory data analysis in a variety of domains.
INFO 4602 - Information Visualization
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021
Explores the design, development and evaluation of information visualizations. Covers visual representations of data and provides hands-on experience with using and building exploratory tools and data narratives. Students create visualizations for a variety of domains and applications, working with stakeholders and their data. Covers interactive systems, user-centered and graphic design, perception, data storytelling and analysis, and insight generation. Programming knowledge is strongly encouraged. Same as INFO 5602.
INFO 5602 - Information Visualization
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021
Explores the design, development and evaluation of information visualizations. Covers visual representations of data and provides hands-on experience with using and building exploratory tools and data narratives. Students create visualizations for a variety of domains and applications, working with stakeholders and their data. Covers interactive systems, user-centered and graphic design, perception, data storytelling and analysis, and insight generation. Programming knowledge is strongly encouraged. Same as INFO 4602.
