What Is Visual Analytics?
I have begun to collect a definitions of visual analytics from papers and websites. Here are a few, more to come!
My own working definition (subject to improvement):
Visual analytics is an emerging discipline that combines the abstract visual metaphors and interactive interfaces of information visualization with tools from the areas of statistical data analysis, knowledge management, cognitive science and others.
Canadian Design Research Network:
Visual analytics is the science of analytic reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces. It focuses on visual representations and interaction techniques that help users to see, explore and understand patterns in large collections of information. Its purpose is to help the user develop insight and make appropriate decisions about actions that should be taken in problems characterized by very large quantities of data that are of varying and indeterminate relevance, and that may be uncertain in any of a variety of ways. …