How can you visualize streaming data to make better decisions?

1 Choose the right visualization type

The first step to visualize streaming data is to choose the right type of visualization that suits your data and your goals. Depending on what you want to show and how you want to interact with the data, you can use different visualization types, such as line charts, bar charts, scatter plots, maps, or heatmaps. For example, if you want to show the changes in a single variable over time, a line chart can be a good option. If you want to show the distribution of a variable across different categories or regions, a bar chart or a map can be more suitable. If you want to show the relationship between two or more variables, a scatter plot or a heatmap can be helpful.

2 Use filters and aggregations

One of the challenges of visualizing streaming data is dealing with the large volume and high velocity of the data. If you try to show all the data points at once, you may end up with a cluttered and confusing visualization that does not reveal any insights. To avoid this, you can use filters and aggregations to reduce the amount of data and focus on the most relevant or interesting aspects. Filters allow you to select a subset of the data based on certain criteria, such as time range, location, or category. Aggregations allow you to group the data by certain dimensions or measures, such as average, sum, count, or percent. For example, if you want to visualize the sales of different products over time, you can filter by a specific product category and aggregate by month or quarter.

3 Use animations and transitions

Another challenge of visualizing streaming data is handling the dynamic changes in the data. If you simply update the visualization with the new data, you may lose the context and continuity of the previous data. To avoid this, you can use animations and transitions to show how the data changes over time and to highlight the differences or similarities between the old and new data. Animations and transitions can also make the visualization more engaging and interactive for the viewers. For example, if you want to visualize the traffic flow of a city, you can use animations to show the movement of the vehicles and transitions to show the changes in the traffic density or speed.

4 Use alerts and notifications

The final step to visualize streaming data is to use alerts and notifications to inform you or your audience about important events or situations that require attention or action. Alerts and notifications can help you monitor the streaming data and detect any anomalies or outliers that may indicate a problem or an opportunity. You can use different methods to create alerts and notifications, such as thresholds, rules, or machine learning algorithms. You can also use different ways to display alerts and notifications, such as colors, sounds, icons, or messages. For example, if you want to visualize the stock market data, you can use alerts and notifications to show when a stock price reaches a certain level or when a significant change occurs.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?