Design and Visualization Techniques for Effective Dashboards

The assignment solution delves into the concept of a dashboard as an interface that organizes and presents information in a clear manner within the realm of information technology. It underscores its role as a primary navigational page within computer applications that offers general insights about the application through representations of various modules. The document further emphasizes the importance of dashboards for performance monitoring, the significance of their interactivity, and usability beyond executive-level usage. Moreover, it discusses how automatic updates in dashboards enhance efficiency and the pivotal role of color schemes in conveying information—advising on the use of certain colors to represent specific messages or functionalities while also catering to users with color blindness by incorporating different shapes for value differentiation. The assignment references key literature on dashboard visualization, underscoring best practices for developing effective IT dashboards.

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2017
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What is a Dashboard?
This is an interface which organizes and display information in a way that is easy to read and
understand in information technology (Rouse, 2014). A dashboard can be an automobile
dashboard or a computer dashboard in the context of information technology. A computer
dashboard is more interactive since in most cases it uses graphical user interfaces to display
information. In most computer applications, the dashboard is always the home page so to say that
provides the user with general information about that application by representing all the modules
of the application. The user begins to navigate to other parts of the application from the
dashboard. Different product information is in most cases integrated by developers of the product
in a unique way to form the dashboard of that product. Most of the product functionalities are
displayed and represented on the dashboard. Therefore, a dashboard present the general
information of the whole product developed.
Importance of Dashboard
 In dashboard each and every visualizations always fit on one single specific computer
screen. When one scrolls more it may lead to violation in term of the dashboard
definition.
 Dashboard also shows some of the significant in indicating/ the measures of performance
will need to be monitored.
 Filter and drill down being the interactive features are used in a dashboard; these types of
activities may not be needed in seeing the indicating the performances especially in cases
where the performance is under-performing
 Dashboard design is not exclusively used by executives but it should be generally used as
a workforce are when the dashboards are efficient and effective they become easy to use.
 The data that is displayed will automatically be updated without in need of any assistance
from any user. Frequency of updating varies by purpose and the specific organization.
Many dashboards that is effective in essence that they are updated on daily basis.
How to use colors in dashboards
Colors in dashboard should be associated with the information being represented in the
dashboard. Each color should correspond to particular message or functionality. For example, in
dashboards, a red color should stand for a warning or a risk while green color should depict
positivity such as OK, Submit, etc. The developer should avoid use of distracting color scheme
that might make it difficult for the user to understand what information is being represented in
the dashboard. A good color scheme improves the appearance of the dashboard and makes it
more professional to the user.

Color Blindness and screen shape
Color blindness is the inability to differentiate colors, for instance red and maroon. To curb this
when designing dashboards, the developer should design the dashboard in different shapes. This
is because users understand values displayed on dashboard based on color, shape and size rather
than textures, greys and orientations (Enhorning, 2014). A proper starting key is to identify
colors which are useful in any information or display to used on a dashboard and then use a
proper color scheme to compliment these colors.
Reference
Enhorning, P. (2014, February 4). Top 7 Tips for Dashboard Visualization. 1-7
(https://unilytics.com/top-7-tips-for-dashboard-visualization/),.
Rouse, M. (2014, September 14). Dashboard. Internet Acronyms and lingo, 1-5.