Infographics in Humanities: Communication of Information or Information Noise? Polish Case

Introduction

Since the mid-twentieth century there have been observable changes in the scientific and media communications, including those based on humanistic problems. Presentations of infographics, photos and films began to compete with the linear text. These tendencies intensified as the digital media developed, including the Internet, and in particular with the rise of the digital humanities, which undertook to study human digital products. The purpose of the study is to join in the discussion of digital humanists on whether the visualizations of data and information (the use of diverse graphical forms and techniques for presenting content) can be an efficient way of communicating information and knowledge about the specificity of the humanities. For the purpose of the research project, the author applies the last concept not only to refer to the knowledge about history and culture but also knowledge about education and all other manifestations of human intellectual activity. In principle, the point is to stress that the studies are not concerned with the visualization of the functioning of devices, living organisms, physical and chemical processes, geological or climatic phenomena, etc. They are concerned with more or less abstract phenomena and processes. Efficacy will be examined, having in mind the receiver who is definitely less prepared for the visual form of communication than information visualization experts, i.e. the graduate of the Polish education system. The author is interested in the efficacy of visualization in the communication from the world of scientists and experts to the world of average users of the material with information and knowledge. To the world of persons to whom modern technologies are no obstacle in the cognitive process and who use elements of communication visualization, e.g. by using emoticons or creating and spreading graphical memes in social media. The article will be based on the investigation of the problem whether a visual communication containing far more graphical elements than a text can be something more to the recipient group (as is the case with school handbooks)? Can it be the dominant form of communication when we are speaking of abstract phenomena and processes, which are reflected not so much in the material reality as in the human mind? Are average graduates of the Polish education system able to understand the message contained in visualizations and find necessary information? Can such communication be useful in solving problems? This will be the way of verifying the thesis promoted by digital humanists, which says that in the days of the Internet, the writing and linear narrative can be superseded in describing the world for the visual forms of communication. It is also necessary to verify fears that visualizations only increase information noise or surplus information and their forms and sources, which make it difficult to distinguish true and essential information.