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research article

The Hermeneutic Circle of Data Visualization: the Case Study of the Affinity Map

Rodighiero, Dario  
•
Romele, Alberto
2020
Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology

In this article, we show how postphenomenology can be used to analyze a visual method that reveals the hidden dynamics that exist between individuals within large organizations. We make use of the Affinity Map to expand the classic postphenomenology that privileges a ‘linear’ understanding of technological mediations introducing the notions of ‘iterativity’ and ‘collectivity.’ In the first section, both classic and more recent descriptions of human-technology-world relations are discussed to transcendentally approach the discipline of data visualization. In the second section, the Affinity Map case study is used to stress three elements: 1) the collection of data and the design process; 2) the visual grammar of the data visualization, and 3) the process of self-recognition for the map ‘reader.’ In the third section, we introduce the hermeneutic circle of data visualization. Finally, in the concluding section, we put forth how the Affinity Map might be seen as the material encounter between postphenomenology, actor-network theory (ANT), and hermeneutics, through ethical and political multistability.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.5840/techne202081126
Author(s)
Rodighiero, Dario  
Romele, Alberto
Date Issued

2020

Published in
Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology
Volume

24

Issue

3

Start page

357

End page

375

Subjects

data visualization

•

postphenomenology

•

hermeneutics

•

iterativity

•

collectivity

URL

Affinity Map

https://affinitymap.epfl.ch
Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

OTHER

EPFL units
DHLAB  
FunderGrant Number

FNS

P2ELP1_181930

Other government funding

AAC nº 02/SAICT/2017 Nr. 029717, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - Portugal 2020

Available on Infoscience
January 29, 2019
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/154169
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