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Physically Moving Data Visualization Interface from Thai Le on Vimeo.

Physical Data Visualization Interface

The proposed project is a data visualization kiosk. This new visualization method will be a mechanically-driven dynamic world map that will display global data.
This kiosk displays data both physically and dynamically. The demo shows water table statistics in a live moving form. The interactive table will play data through a selected time period (ex: 1995 – 2000). Users will be able to see trends and patterns emerging.
The final piece, in comparison to this prototype, will include all 195+ United Nations members of the world. The piece will be proposed to be exhibited at the NYC United Nations lobby.

There will likely be some major overhauls as far as the final piece will look. Some areas of research that may inform my changes is research in tangible interfaces and how this may help/harm transfer of knowledge.

Concept – the concept has changed a bit over time currently:
Ubiquitous Information Design, an approach to making information design physically reactive.
Some may call this interactive. I will make a slight distinction here.
If one pulls up a Data Visualization [visually shows data] or infographic [data shown with a purpose to persuade],
and the user is able to touch a button and the information updates, this would be considered responsive.
If the user touches a button and the infromation is recalculated and adjust to user input, this is reactive.
If the user touches a button and the information changes forcing the user to readjust levels of input, this would be considered interactive [much like gaming experiences].

Essential Design Question – How can ubiquotous computing be applied in a successful way to information design?
Will this pairing aide or distract in learning and memory processes. To a lesser extent, will participatory interaction with the project add value to the experience (ie multiple users)?

Domains – Information Design, Systems Science & Systemics, Ubiquitous Computing, Exhibition Design, Educational Design to some extent, Cybernetics [feedback loops], Product Design & Haptic technology.

Methodology & Method –
Method – Construct 2-3 units of the final product via 3d printer and laser cutter at the lab. The size will be roughly a 2′x2′ surface.

Methodology – Testing this application will require a mid-fidelity prototype. The project itself is centered around haptics, so I feel it is important to have a higher fidelity prototype to test. I would like to see how the material choices and the user’s physical orientation [toward the prototype] affects the experience. Will the design choices prompt the user to interact with the piece in the way it is intended or not? The size of the experiment will be smaller unit of the whole for ease of user testing.

Key term: Haptic technology refers to technology that interfaces to the user via the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to the user

User Testing Group – This is my ideal list, * = not confirmed yet
Prof. William Bevington, Sayoko Yoshida, & *Brian Wilson [Parsons Institute for Information Mapping]
Alexis Lloyd [New York Times R&D lab] & *Amanda Cox [New York Times info. designer]
Prof. Scott Pobiner [CHI community, Association for Computing Machinery]
*Prof. Jane Pirone [Parsons, info. designer]
*UN cartographic center, *Statistics Division

Misha Glenny investigates global crime networks – “McMafia”. This inspiring talk at Ted conference shows us how crime syndicates are affecting us all around the world [producing 15% of the world GDP]. A vivid example involves the deaths of over 5.4 Million in Congo since 1988. Congo is rich in resources and columbite is one of those. This raw material is used in all kinds of electronics such as cell phones and laptops. They are used in components called capacitors. I am sure I have a few capacitors in some of my projects that have originated from the Congo. Paramillitary groups collaborate with Mafia groups around the world to seize these resources and sell them to global markets for production of electronic goods mainly for the West and EU. This money is used to fund conflict [arms] between the Hutu and Tutsi groups in the Congo [the movie Hotel Rwanda is based on this conflict].

Another example shows us how efforts to vaccinate against malaria in Cambodia is being subverted by illegal sales of drugs via internet from shady online pharmaceudical dealers. As prices for these drugs are too high on the market, locals go online and buy questionable quality vaccinations with low amounts of the needed active ingredients. Recently there have been signs of resistance to the vaccination. It is believed that these unofficial pharmaceuticals sold online are at the root of the cause.

Its great to hear about human development initiatives around the world through all kinds of organizations, but its equally bitter to see how criminal activities around the world are undermining some of these efforts.
—
This piece gives me an idea. Using my interface to show guided narratives of these stories. My data driven interface affords me an opportunity to display global statistics while a story [like one of these above] is being told.

Thesis concept: Physical Data Visualization
Why the need for exhibition? People are bombarded with media, marketing and busy work lives. An exhibition piece would be an attempt to reduce the amount of things that might be competing for the our attention. There is no way to stop anyone from looking at their phones in a gallery or exhibition space but at least it would eliminate a full blown laptop session. People go to museums and the like with intentions of minimizing distractions.
This is my first attempt at a hard prototype. My thesis project is dynamic data visualization. There is a difference between data visualization and information graphic. Information graphics aim to persuade the user while a data visualization’s main purpose is to show the data – with understanding as a primary goal.
Below is a map of the world cut out of museum board. As you will notice some countries are lifted off the map [only 6 countries prototyped for now]. The height of the countries are their national export amounts. As of this point there is no scale-this is a design challenge for the final piece. Eventually all countries will be lifted off the map to show any other kinds of data. This data will also be dynamic – each country will move vertically up and down to show data over time. The base of the graphic will be controlled by linear motors. At a later point, a touch screen will be added into the interaction.

Some initial critiques.
-islands & small countries pose a challenge to lifting off the map
+ just found a UN map in geometric shapes and it should take care of the squishing-of-islands problem
(open source, THANK you Dept. of Field Support, Cartographic Section)
-the size of the map must be larger, some of the countries are too small
-still debating whether the actual countries should be touch sensitive
-originally I was wanting to have the space underneath the countries be a extrusion, but the
poles here allow the user to see behind the countries [no countries would be hidden/occluded from view]
-I need to visit the cartographic department and/or the information design depts. at the UN for further critique.

see UN “The World Today” map – geometric and simplified below
http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/maplib/maps_pages/wm-latin-america3.htm

I am interested in showing the systemic and connected nature of the world. My thesis project will help illustrate the impact and interconnected nature of globalization. Below is a data visualization created to show the dynamic nature of ecosystems. Users can change the balance of this system with interactive sliders. It shows how phytoplankton, zooplankton, decay and nitrogen effect the population dynamics of an ecosystem. In this visualization you can see that increasing nitrogen to the system positively effects P growth, which increases Z growth which in turn [both] effect decay rate which feeds back into nitrogen rates. This data visual is driven by different models, based on research done by various organizations. There is a link below so feel free to play god!

http://coast.ocean.washington.edu/~neil/NPZvisualizer/

Currently my plans for thesis is to fabricate a 3D real time interface to display Millennium Development Goals monitor in a physical way. The picture above an online visualization of UN MDG monitor that I plan to translate into a physical artifact. More to come on this later once a prototype is complete.

Time to start writing out domains, categories and random ideas for thesis. So here goes (a big virtual breath) –

Info graphics, robotics, analog & digital, structural holes and network formation, community, participatory users, cradle to cradle, autopoesis, product design, web services, mobile application/connected, scalability, contagion, enlightenment (vague I know), new perspectives, “what the world needs?”, convergence, swarm & collective intelligence, ubiquitous computing, Nietzsche(everyone needs a driving philosophy), systemics, cybernetics, phenomenology – okay outta virtual breath for now. I can add more but that will do it for now.

This video was referred to me by websitealive.com.
An awesome video created by France H5 – showing how everything is information and how it relates to more information[overload]. Its all around us[info], in us, by us, shown to us, used by us and for us. Information graphics will some how be integrated into my thesis project and this serves as a great inspiration.

This video “reminds me” of a chat I had with Professor William Bevington (Parsons Institute for Information Mapping) last month. I asked for some advice about thesis ideas pertaining to infographics. I agreed to have a walk with him outside. During our walk he pointed out one example after the next of information all around us. He did not have to open a laptop or visit any site, the data was all around us. Then I got to thinking, are trees nature’s version of bar graphs? It shows how much sun, water and nutrients it has extracted from the land and environment. They are real life data objects – no further abstraction is really necessary to understand some things.

The video above is a system to bridge the benefits of physical controls with flexibility of virtual surface interfaces.

Haptics (physical input) – allows the user the understand through exercising of senses. The shape of a volume control on a stereo system conveys what it can do through the embodiment of its shape. To be round, small and have teeth is to convey to the observer that, “Hey I am small enough to explore with your fingers by twisting, pushing and pulling.” A history of playing with buttons since our earliest memories of childhood has orientated us to interact with objects like round knobs in a certain way. The way we interact with knobs is ingrained our minds and habituated through
daily activities.

Virtual (conceptual inputs) – These are virtual/digital controls, such as the “play” button on Windows Media Player or Quick Time Interface. These knobs are only limited to the 2D surfaces they sit in. They can have 3D visual qualities and practically infinite varieties of shape and color as limited by technology’s screen output.

Thus we compromise flexibility for ease of use. Virtual tools are highly contextual, in regards to the digital environment or interface it is being used. There are few, if any, tactile cues as to what the controls are there for. The observer must contextualize the tools in the interface and/or virtual environment to understand it’s utility. In the case of Windows Media Player, there aren’t as many controls, but compare that to complex programs like AutoCAD, Abelton Live, MS Office, where buttons fill the screen. A persons new to computers would most likely be overwhelmed with any of these interface at first glace (not to mention endless interface upgrades). Contrast this to an old stereo system, even a child can explore the massive array of knobs on a DJ’s deck with some predictability (and fun =))

Physical controls are clunky, take up much more space and have limited uses and applications. Also, they can not simply sink back in to virtual space when you no longer need them. Furthermore, if you already install a control and need to change its behavior, the whole control might have to change as well.

This video seems to be a good step in bridging the benefits of both control methods.
Cheers!