Data visualization has come a long way in recent years, and the future looks even brighter. As data continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, the ability to communicate this data effectively will become even more important. We've compiled 6 trends for the future of data visualization for you.
1. Interactivity and VR/AR
With technological advances, data visualization will become more interactive and immersive. Users will be able to interact with data in a more natural way. For example, through gestures or voice commands. In addition, users will be able to immerse themselves in the data through virtual and augmented reality.
2. Machine learning-powered visualization
Machine learning will play an increasingly important role in data visualization. By using machine learning algorithms, visualization tools can automatically identify patterns and insights into data. This will make it easier for users to discover new information.
3. Real-time and streaming data
Real-time and streaming data will become more common, and data visualization tools will process and display this data in real-time. This will allow users to make faster, more informed decisions.
4. Increased use of natural language
As natural language processing (NLP) technology improves, data visualization will increasingly use natural language. This will allow users to ask questions and interact with data more naturally, making it more accessible to a wider range of users. Tableau is already sorting for these functionalities with Ask Data. In a somewhat older blog from 2019, we explain Ask data to you.
5. More customization and personalization
in the future, data visualization tools will become more customizable and personalized. Users will be able to customize their visualizations to their specific needs and preferences, making it easier for them to find the insights they need. Again, you can already see the first functionalities in Tableau. For example, Dynamic Zone Visibility allows you to let users set what they do/don't want to see in the dashboard.
6. Increased focus on storytelling and narratives.
Data visualization is becoming more of a storytelling art form with more focus on creating narratives and stories around data. This allows users to better understand and remember insights and make more effective decisions. Creators of these dashboards take users by the hand and guide them through a story. Since Tableau version 2022.4, the Data stories feature has been created for this development. Tableau automatically creates that a piece of narrative text that describes findings from the dashboard.
Overall, the future of data visualization is expected to be more interactive, more immersive and more tailored to individual needs. With the continued growth of data and technological advances, data visualization will play an increasingly important role in helping organizations understand their data and make better decisions.