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Number by Colors: A Guide to Using Color to Understand Technical Data. Brand Fortner and Theodore E. Meyer. 349 pp. TELOS, (Springer-Verlag), 1997. $44.95.
Brand Fortner is well known for his long involvement with such data-visualization programs as "Plot," "Transform" and "Slicer." Hence it seemed reasonable to expect this book to be filled with really insightful suggestions for and examples of computer-based data visualization and analysis. Surprise! The first part of the book is devoted to a review of human color vision, how video screens and hardcopy printers reproduce color, how different color spaces work, and other fascinating topics. Although presented in a well-structured way that is interesting to read, Fortner's information is not as technical as some folks might need if they actually planned to use it. Pratt's Digital...