Continuous Data
Visualizing continuous time series data is similar to visualizing discrete data. You do, after all, still have a discrete number of data points, even if the dataset is continuous. The structure of continuous and discrete is the same. The difference between the two is what they represent in the physical world. As previously covered, continuous data represents constantly changing phenomena, so to this end, you want to visualize the data in a way that shows that.
Connect the Dots
You’re probably familiar with this one. The time series chart is similar to drawing points, except you also connect the points with lines. Often, you don’t show the points. Figure 4-33 shows the geometry of the popular chart type.
You have the nodes, or points, that take on X- and Y-coordinates, and then the edges, or connecting lines that help you see trends in your data. It’s usually a good idea to start the value axis at zero because starting anywhere else could affect the...
