Micro-Macro Readings

Tufte states that: "A most unconventional design strategy is revealed: to clarify, add detail ". Debate the Pros and Cons of this design strategy.
One Minute Paper:

What does the single footnote on page 37 talk about and how is it related to the main text?

Discussion: how is the footnote and its content relevant to the issue of to clarify, add detail ?
Key concepts: Micro/Macro Readings
to clarify, add detail (p. 37)

information rich displays: increase data density and increase data dimensionality (as stated at the beginning of Escaping Flatland)
simplification is never a good design strategy

"Such [micro/macro] designs can report immense detail, organizing complexity through multiple and (often) hierarchical layers of contextual reading" (p. 38, bottom)
the related principle of "graphical elements are multi-functioning" (p.47)
"Micro/macro designs enforce both local and global comparisons and, at the same time, avoid the disruption of context switching. All told, exactly what is needed for reasoning about information." (p. 50)
"it is not how much empty space there is, but rather how it is used. It is not how much information there is, but rather how effectively it is arranged". (p. 50)
"Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information" (p. 51)
God is in the details (p.51)
Geographic/Aviation Example

The rise of the newer pixel ("grid-square") maps versus the older choropleth maps (p.40 bottom)
PhotoMosaics