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ENLIGHTENMENT
the future of news visualization
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
Hmm!
theres so much great stuff! around what should I show?
OK
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
http://graphtv.kevinformatics.com/
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
Or about these?
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
http://www.elmundo.es/juegosonline/dispara.html
But I think that the future of visualization doesnt depend on the tools we use, but on solid principles
Instead of thinking what the future of visualization will be, I perhaps should talk about what I would like the future of news visualization to be
PREDICTION 1
designers and journalists (and not just data journalists) will become better at using numbers and evidence
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
Data journalists and infographics and visualization designers can lead the way and help raise the numeracy and visual skills of both their colleagues and the public.
We need to be a bit more outspoken when we see wrongdoing
The incredible map that shows that half of the U.S. population produces half of the GDP
http://www.thefunctionalart.com/2014/02/the-incredible-gdp-map-that-shows-that.html
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
This map is the equivalent of writing a headline without writing the story that should follow it (to provide more detail.)
Well... Yes they have! (although perhaps not because of the anti-alcohol law)
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/221280/more-than-one-quarter-ofjournalists-wish-theyd-chosen-another-career/
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/221280/more-than-one-quarter-ofjournalists-wish-theyd-chosen-another-career/
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
Wouldn't it be more newsworthy to report that this number has barely changed in spite of the deep crisis news media"and journalism itself, for that matter"is going through? That's the real story, I believe.
However, an important challenge is that we, data journalists and visualization designers, are also the victims of patternicity
Patternicity
Finding Meaningful Patterns in Meaningless Noise
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
The rst principle is that you must not fool yourself--and you are! the easiest person to fool
Richard Feynman, 1974, Caltech Graduation Address
http://www.lhup.edu/~DSIMANEK/cargocul.htm
texty.org.ua
All Textys visualization pojects: http://texty.org.ua/pg/blog/infoviz
BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25182823
PREDICTION 2
there will be a return to the foundations of visualization
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
What are the features that dene a great infographic or data visualization?
"We need to fear the consequences of our work more than we love the cleverness of our ideas.
Mike Monteiro - How Designers Destroyed the World http://t.co/Kfegq3ldj6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Playfair
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/2014-olympics/winter-vs-summer-olympics/
PREDICTION 3
we will embrace the idea that designers can encode their data more than once
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/31/business/20080801-metrics-graphic.html
PREDICTION 4
designers will learn that writing is as important to visualization as the visuals or graphics themselves
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
PREDICTION 5
PREDICTION 6
news visualization designers will assume that becoming procient at using technologies is not a goal in itself
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
http://graphics.wsj.com/health-care-explorer
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo
Our rst responsibility is towards the planet, humankind, citizens, and only after that towards clients and employers or even towards your artsy inner world. You must be a creator of devices that make this Earth a better place before you can even think of becoming a ne artist.
http://www.thefunctionalart.com/2014/02/against-irresponsible-design-and-blind.html
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Alberto Cairo University of Miami www.thefunctionalart.com Twitter: @albertocairo