The Evolving Duet of Two Modalities: A Survey on Integrating Text and Visualization for Data Communication

A research team including Xingyu Lan, Xi Li, and four others has published a comprehensive survey titled 'The Evolving Duet of Two Modalities: A Survey on Integrating Text and Visualization for Data Communication.' The paper, which has been peer-reviewed and accepted for the prestigious ACM CHI 2026 conference, systematically reviews 98 existing publications. It addresses a significant gap in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research by focusing on text's understudied role as a narrative and storytelling device within data visualizations, moving beyond its common uses as mere data input or an interaction tool.

The survey's core contribution is a synthesis that investigates *how* text can be utilized in visualization, analyzes its specific functions and effects on interpretation, and explores design principles to facilitate clearer data communication. The researchers identify that while text is fundamental, its application for supporting narrative and guiding user understanding remains fragmented across the field. Their work culminates in identifying significant research gaps and proposing concrete future directions to advance the integration of these two modalities. The ultimate aim is to provide actionable guidance for designers and developers creating dashboards, reports, and analytical tools where text can enhance narrative clarity and foster deeper user engagement with data.