There are always two sides to every story. Sorting out the evidence and documenting the details usually are first on the agenda. These actions are quickly followed by a storyline analysis where it is essential to engage and capture the viewer’s attention. Engaging the viewer will lead to long-lasting, memorable impressions that can be visually recalled in the mind’s eye. Most stories fall apart when the explanations of the technical data create sleepy eyes, yawning and lack for attention. Studies have been done related to visual and verbal methods of communication. Almost always, visual communication created longer lasting impression, faster delivery of content and better retention of information. When looking at modern cultures, it is hard to imagine a world without visual communication. It is seen all around us, even in signs for navigation. The impact of support visuals behind a well thought out storyline will influence decision makers. Take a collision, for example. A bicyclist is traveling down the sidewalk, and it runs into a vehicle that has jut pulled out of a parking lot, physically injuring the cyclist. The driver might claim the bicyclist was traveling at an unsafe speed, and the cyclist might accuse the driver of neglecting to look for pedestrian’s prior to pulling into traffic. Who is at fault and to what extent?
Suppose you are building a case against the driver and have a stack of documents with evidence and technical details about the event. Quickly, you realize you need some visual tools to aid in telling the story. You decide to commission a forensics studio to visually reconstruct the evidence. An animation is prepared allowing you to see though the driver’s eyes. This animation illustrates there were no objects obstructing the driver’s view of the cyclist. If there were still questions or doubt, additional hypothetical scenarios could be developed. For example, an animation of the cyclist traveling at slower speeds, giving you the power to not only confirm the opposition’s claims, but also the ability to visually demonstrate its flaws should you find any. The power of visual communication is great and can sway decisions one way or another, consider accident reconstruction and forensic animation in your next case.