[2][3][4] Before the invention of computers and digital devices, the application of data physicalization already existed in ancient artifacts as a medium to represent abstract information.
Moreover, since such representations were deliberately made and crafted, the evidences suggest that the geometric presentation of information is a popular methodology in the context of society.
When the buyers and sellers want to make a trade, they prepare a set of tokens and seal them inside the clay envelope after impressing the shape on the surface.
The significance of the token is it uses physical shape to encode numerical information[11] and it is regarded as the precursor of the early writing system.
By analyzing those remaining artifacts, Erland Nordenskiöld[19] proposed that Quipus is the only writing system used by Inca, and the information encoding technique is sophisticated and distinctive.
For example, from 1663 to 1867, Plan-relief model was used to visualize French territorial structure and important military units such as citadels and walled cities.
Therefore, from an epistemic perspective, physical manipulation enables users to uncover hidden patterns that cannot be easily detected.
[25] Max Perutz received Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1962 for his distinguished work in discovering the structure of the globular protein.
When a narrow X-ray passes through the haemoglobin molecule, the diffraction pattern can review the inner structure of the atomic arrangements.
[6] One of Perutz's works within this research involved creating a physicalized haemoglobin molecule which enables him to manipulate and inspect the structure in a tangible way.
In the book, Bertin designed a matrices visualization device called Domino which let users manipulate row and column data.
[29] With the help of digital fabrication tool such as laser cutter, researchers in Fab Lab at RWTH Aachen University has used it to produce relief-based a tactile map to support visually impaired users.