The time we shared was fun, but sadly it must come to an end…
And I will continue to blog like the little addict I have become.
- facebook (already had it, NMP just made it more addictive)
- twitter
- last.fm
- Vimeo
- flickr
- and this very tumblr
I think that’s quite possibly the biggest influence one single unit has had on my life throughout my four years at uni. Wow!
Jokes aside, Networked Media Production has opened up the internet on a higher level for both my personal use and ability. I have noticed when comparing my blogs to others that my style is - short and sweet. This I might add, is not out of laziness but the affirmation of the belief in ’QUALITY NOT QUANTITY’.
That being said I would like to nominate the following three posts (based on content and the reflection of my learning apparent in them) for marking:
1. The PRICE of a Cyberworld (June5, 2009). Why? This blog displays how the knowledge I have gained from NMP is actually sticking. I like the fact that I am still aware of these things in my leisure time - like when watching movies.
2. HEALTHY OBSESSION - Is there such a thing? Why? This blog raises interesting concern about our fast paced lifestyles and how on earth we have the time to indulge in a cyberworld? Yet again is the cyberworld just an adaption to the hectic lives we lead? Plus it has a lovely image.
3. The World Wide Web (the one we can’t escape) Why? The linking article explains it all - the blog is short but I assure you the article is quality.
I had trouble picking the third one as the blog is so short, however I think the article is great and sparks some interesting conversation highly relevant to NMP.
I have followed a few classmates which made things more interesting, it also helped for the composure of my rationale. It’s nice to see people following you as it means someone is listening - that other person is one thing that is always there, but not always visible on the internet.
Please excuse my lack of ability to blog whilst unwell with the old appendix - hopefully I made up for it!
The Data Visualisation process was more difficult than first thought of. However, using ‘Motion’ to animate the piece was more rewarding in the end. Although it was time consuming this particular form allowed for a clear representation of data to be communicated through images.
The one problem was the fact that using animation, with my limited time and skills, meant sacrificing data visualisation and heading in more of an ‘Info Graphics’ direction. This was caused as there did not seem to be enough time to include all of the data and if I was to do so I would have opted for a 3D rather than a 2D graph.
That aside, the Australian Bureau of Statistics website provided the data for the visualisation process. The ABS data was taken from the National Health Survey and this particular component of the survey focused on Obesity and Overweight in Adults from 2004-2005.
The data was divided into ages and risk factors among people according to their Body Mass Index (BMI). As stated, there was not enough time to include all ages and all BMI’s so I just chose the two types of data that would make for the best comparison. I read through the report that followed the statistics as to gain an understanding of the main points the report came to. Altering lifestyle was one main issue, so I went with that. I realised this was probably not enough data to classify as a data visualisation whilst making the choice to do a comparison. However, I was willing to do so as the idea of animation was very appealing. This is also the reason why it began to take the form on infographic’s rather than data visualisation – because there was not enough data involved. Had there been more time I would have attempted a larger animation which probably would have been very enjoyable.
Animation is time consuming, difficult yet effective. Initially I tried to use key frames for accuracy on percentages. This was too dificult as even multiplying the percentage results by three wouldn’t work design wise. That’s why a table with 0 to 100 was the final way to go. This way the information was presented better – ideally having both accurate and well presented data would have been more rewarding. I tried to get the data as accurate as possible by playing with the Geometry of key points, however I was unable to create a scale.
Not using a scale meant the information didn’t start precisely on zero either. This causes problems for validity. The information is displayed well just not as accurately as hoped for because there is no scale. However, the comparison does reveal information by way of graphics - which is the whole point of visualising data - to make it more accessible and enjoyable. That is why I feel this was successful as I have used data to create an interesting display of information.
Now, the upload was another story! My Project B was hard to upload with Vimeo for some strange reason, even when I changed the codec. I attempted to export the video a number of times in different codecs and formats. None of which worked. After these complications I thought Flickr would to the trick just fine! It did exactly that - easy to upload. I was so confused by the number of times I exported my project that I don’t even know what it ended up being (I have a feeling it was exported as an animation). Now there is a little ‘Kylie’ Vimeo account doing nothing, yet I will try and continue to upload to Flickr as it is a great networking website.
There were a few other small issues I encountered such as colour choice for the graph (too bright/harsh for video) and whether to use animated pie charts or bar graphs. Overall, after the time and frustration, I am happy with the outcome.
Changing data into graphs is a successful idea that I believe will become a whole lot more popular in the increasingly digital world.
Frustration Nation and a little more food for thought…
The nation I am referring to is the internet and in particular: facebook. PRIVACY PEOPLE! Why do people enjoy tagging people in sooooo (excuse the grammar but tone necessary) many photographs?
People are fired because they had a drunken weekend. People are also dismissed for chucking a ‘sicky’. These are only two concerns regarding both the effect and impact of the cyberworld.
Just wanted to ask a quick question - is privacy even possible on the internet?
No matter who you ‘block’ or how you navigate your material, once it exists on the internet it exists forever and only takes one computer nerd to reveal it.
I thankfully have no incriminating information in the internet, but do we have the right of access to other peoples?
Recently I watched the film August starring Josh Hartnett as an entrepeneur who gets in a little too deep. Its relevance in this very blog lies in the type of business involved and the films exploration of the dot-com market.
Further, in one scene the protagonist says, “I mean, isn’t the Internet supposed to increase freedom of choice?”
This raises the interesting point surrounding the level of control in the online environment. Has it, or has it not increased freedom of choice for members of the public?
The amount of money involved in the internet, especially the media, points to an element of control. We can choose what sites to visit but there is a level of sub conscious that we do not recognise. There is a general consensus that the internet does increase freedom in general, yet we are often oblivious or atleast vulnerable to the high level of control.
That being said, one must look at what the Internet is doing positively in terms of control. What does it mean for countries like China. Well, according to this article which explores the possibility that the Internet is loosening Government control in China. One part which captures the essence of this very blogpost:
“You cannot control Internet. That is my basic theory,” said Guo, who recently completed a survey on Internet use in 12 smaller Chinese cities. “People can receive all sorts of information. The filters cannot scan a graphic.
The most important thing one can take away with them is to be AWARE of the ability of the ‘big’ people to control others (being us - the ‘little’ people).
After the bitching and complaining about how much time is wasted online I went and signed myself up to twitter. Good one! Do you want to know the worst part? It’s enjoyable and that means another addiction up my sleeve. Just what I need in Week 15!
It’s like an information hub, about all your favourite things. When someone else decides to follow you it’s like a mini compliment. I love!
My page is not all that interesting at the moment but I’m sure it will be soon enough (seeing as every spare moment might just be spent there).
Maybe this addiction isn’t so sad, maybe it’s just a sign of the times?
I just can’t seem to get my head around the obsession with ‘twittering’.
OK I get the pros and how ‘cool’ it is, but after reading Howard Rheingold’s article I got to thinking. How can we complain about how busy our lives are if we have time for a whole new online identity?
Rheingold explains how twitter just won’t get you going if you don’t get to know it properly (hence the 60% rate of people who stop using after one week). For the other forty percent however, what does it say about culture today?
The immediacy involved is exciting, I’m guilty of it, but do we ever stop to think what else could be done in that 20 minutes spent on twitter everyday? I am guilty of the facebook newly updated status updates. It’s addictive! Yet not only addictive, this online environment has become extremely competitive. Just like facebook versus Myspace. It’s back, but now it’s facebook versus twitter. Will it ever end?
twitter was definitely winning until facebook entered a new API that allowed for simplistic (fantastic) status updates almost instantaneously!
I’m no one to talk but the thought of what could be done in the time ‘wasted’ online is somewhat frightening.
Satorialist satorialist, why are you ALSO so addictive?
Data is everywhere, we just need to locate it. Once it has been located the next step is to represent it. Data Visualisation is changing; it is becoming more and more interesting and being employed to express important messages.
However, there is plenty of room for more trivial data to be visualised such as the information found in social networks. Everyday millions of people interact vis the internet and all of this information is captured in the likes of facebook, Myspace, blogs and more recently the ‘twitter’ phenomena.
Below is a data visualisation named ‘Just Landed’ which uses the social networking application ‘twitter’ to follow the travel of individuals. Each time the term ‘just landed’ is twittered the information is used to make this visualisation:
This classes as data visualisation rather than info graphics as the actual data is controlling the movement. Its most important component is ‘position’. The movement used is dependent on position to portray the information because it is expressing where the people are travelling to. The scale in this case is relative to the distance travelled which depicts an engaging form of motion. It seems colour could have been used here, maybe to distinguish between male and female with the likes of pink and blue.
The creator explains the reason behind and the process of this engaging data visualisation in his blog.
