good morning oh yeah I I looked on the New York Times this morning cuz I was
New York Times this morning cuz I was
New York Times this morning cuz I was curious about a question I wanted to see
curious about a question I wanted to see
curious about a question I wanted to see how many articles in the last 24 hours
how many articles in the last 24 hours
how many articles in the last 24 hours mentioned the word data there were 42
mentioned the word data there were 42
mentioned the word data there were 42 there have been almost 2,000 this year
there have been almost 2,000 this year
there have been almost 2,000 this year that have involved the word data so
that have involved the word data so
that have involved the word data so there’s a data conversation happening
there’s a data conversation happening
there’s a data conversation happening the part of the data conversation that
the part of the data conversation that
the part of the data conversation that I’m most interested in is this idea of
I’m most interested in is this idea of
I’m most interested in is this idea of what is the lived experience of data
what is the lived experience of data
what is the lived experience of data what is it like to live in this new data
what is it like to live in this new data
what is it like to live in this new data world and and for that I’ll offer up a
world and and for that I’ll offer up a
world and and for that I’ll offer up a metaphor and that is the metaphor of
metaphor and that is the metaphor of
metaphor and that is the metaphor of this bizarre system of air travel that
this bizarre system of air travel that
this bizarre system of air travel that we often immerse ourselves in now this
we often immerse ourselves in now this
we often immerse ourselves in now this system is very very very complex but we
system is very very very complex but we
system is very very very complex but we often catch just a small glimpse of it
often catch just a small glimpse of it
often catch just a small glimpse of it we see that complexity as we pass
we see that complexity as we pass
we see that complexity as we pass through the security line up we might
through the security line up we might
through the security line up we might see it as we see our bag disappear along
see it as we see our bag disappear along
see it as we see our bag disappear along one of those moving runways we certainly
one of those moving runways we certainly
one of those moving runways we certainly see it when we’re sitting on the air
see it when we’re sitting on the air
see it when we’re sitting on the air plane and we seeing that refueling here
plane and we seeing that refueling here
plane and we seeing that refueling here is coming up and repairing and refueling
is coming up and repairing and refueling
is coming up and repairing and refueling the airplanes the fact is this that when
the airplanes the fact is this that when
the airplanes the fact is this that when you are on an airplane in the air you
you are on an airplane in the air you
you are on an airplane in the air you are one of 1 million people more than 1
are one of 1 million people more than 1
are one of 1 million people more than 1 million people who are currently in the
million people who are currently in the
million people who are currently in the air the staggering figure but this
air the staggering figure but this
air the staggering figure but this experience of being part of something
experience of being part of something
experience of being part of something that is so complicated that you can
that is so complicated that you can
that is so complicated that you can barely understand it is is I think very
barely understand it is is I think very
barely understand it is is I think very closely related to the data experience
closely related to the data experience
closely related to the data experience and also this idea of kind of a loss of
and also this idea of kind of a loss of
and also this idea of kind of a loss of control right getting on an airplane is
control right getting on an airplane is
control right getting on an airplane is one of those few times where we allow
one of those few times where we allow
one of those few times where we allow our the control to be lost so I want to
our the control to be lost so I want to
our the control to be lost so I want to talk about what that means to us as we
talk about what that means to us as we
talk about what that means to us as we engage in this conversation about data
engage in this conversation about data
engage in this conversation about data you know things are getting more
you know things are getting more
you know things are getting more complicated people have known this for a
complicated people have known this for a
complicated people have known this for a little while the American novelist it
little while the American novelist it
little while the American novelist it David Foster Wallace he wrote this book
David Foster Wallace he wrote this book
David Foster Wallace he wrote this book called Infinite Jest if an adjust is
called Infinite Jest if an adjust is
called Infinite Jest if an adjust is full of footnotes occasionally those
full of footnotes occasionally those
full of footnotes occasionally those footnotes have footnotes and
footnotes have footnotes and
footnotes have footnotes and occasionally those footnotes – footnotes
occasionally those footnotes – footnotes
occasionally those footnotes – footnotes have footnotes and when he was asked why
have footnotes and when he was asked why
have footnotes and when he was asked why he did this he responded he said I
he did this he responded he said I
he did this he responded he said I wanted to mimic the information flood
wanted to mimic the information flood
wanted to mimic the information flood and data triage that I thought would be
and data triage that I thought would be
and data triage that I thought would be would be a bigger part of us life 15
would be a bigger part of us life 15
would be a bigger part of us life 15 years from now Infinite Jest was written
years from now Infinite Jest was written
years from now Infinite Jest was written 16 years ago and this word data triage
16 years ago and this word data triage
16 years ago and this word data triage is really interesting to me because what
is really interesting to me because what
is really interesting to me because what I do I think is a form of data
I do I think is a form of data
I do I think is a form of data triage and data visualization is a form
triage and data visualization is a form
triage and data visualization is a form of data triage but I think that people
of data triage but I think that people
of data triage but I think that people that maybe maybe don’t have a full
that maybe maybe don’t have a full
that maybe maybe don’t have a full understanding of what we can do with
understanding of what we can do with
understanding of what we can do with data visualization we we first started
data visualization we we first started
data visualization we we first started hearing about data visualization in the
hearing about data visualization in the
hearing about data visualization in the late 1800s Early 1900s with graphics
late 1800s Early 1900s with graphics
late 1800s Early 1900s with graphics like this this is florence Nightingale’s
like this this is florence Nightingale’s
like this this is florence Nightingale’s graphic showing the casualty count of
graphic showing the casualty count of
graphic showing the casualty count of soldiers and her point was that soldiers
soldiers and her point was that soldiers
soldiers and her point was that soldiers were dying more of disease than they
were dying more of disease than they
were dying more of disease than they were dying on the battlefield at the
were dying on the battlefield at the
were dying on the battlefield at the same time John Snow produced this famous
same time John Snow produced this famous
same time John Snow produced this famous graphic which plotted the incidence of
graphic which plotted the incidence of
graphic which plotted the incidence of cholera in a certain area of London and
cholera in a certain area of London and
cholera in a certain area of London and from this graphic he was able to
from this graphic he was able to
from this graphic he was able to discover what the source of that cholera
discover what the source of that cholera
discover what the source of that cholera epidemic was in this case it was a
epidemic was in this case it was a
epidemic was in this case it was a single well and at the same time there
single well and at the same time there
single well and at the same time there were medical instruments which I think
were medical instruments which I think
were medical instruments which I think helped me to find my point quite well
helped me to find my point quite well
helped me to find my point quite well which is this is a blood pressure meter
which is this is a blood pressure meter
which is this is a blood pressure meter I’m not even gonna try to pronounce that
I’m not even gonna try to pronounce that
I’m not even gonna try to pronounce that name on stage which takes something very
name on stage which takes something very
name on stage which takes something very complicated the circulatory system and
complicated the circulatory system and
complicated the circulatory system and makes it simple right at the same time
makes it simple right at the same time
makes it simple right at the same time there was the x-ray now the x-ray
there was the x-ray now the x-ray
there was the x-ray now the x-ray doesn’t make something simple it shows
doesn’t make something simple it shows
doesn’t make something simple it shows us something that we have never seen
us something that we have never seen
us something that we have never seen before so I’d suggest there are two
before so I’d suggest there are two
before so I’d suggest there are two reasons why we visualize data to reduce
reasons why we visualize data to reduce
reasons why we visualize data to reduce things to make them simpler and to
things to make them simpler and to
things to make them simpler and to reveal things to show us things that we
reveal things to show us things that we
reveal things to show us things that we have never seen before and I’m really
have never seen before and I’m really
have never seen before and I’m really interested in this second part of data
interested in this second part of data
interested in this second part of data visualization this is a piece that I did
visualization this is a piece that I did
visualization this is a piece that I did four years ago called just landed and
four years ago called just landed and
four years ago called just landed and here I’m listening for tweets I’m hit
here I’m listening for tweets I’m hit
here I’m listening for tweets I’m hit listening for people who have said I’m
listening for people who have said I’m
listening for people who have said I’m just landed in Hawaii or I’ve just
just landed in Hawaii or I’ve just
just landed in Hawaii or I’ve just landed in New York right there this
landed in New York right there this
landed in New York right there this thinly veiled show-off tweets and we can
thinly veiled show-off tweets and we can
thinly veiled show-off tweets and we can take those tweets and we can put them
take those tweets and we can put them
take those tweets and we can put them together into a system because I know
together into a system because I know
together into a system because I know where that person lives because they’ve
where that person lives because they’ve
where that person lives because they’ve told me in their profile and I know
told me in their profile and I know
told me in their profile and I know where they’re going because they just
where they’re going because they just
where they’re going because they just told me on Twitter and so we can produce
told me on Twitter and so we can produce
told me on Twitter and so we can produce a whole system of world travel just from
a whole system of world travel just from
a whole system of world travel just from listening to people on Twitter a
listening to people on Twitter a
listening to people on Twitter a companion project was this one called
companion project was this one called
companion project was this one called good morning which is just that this is
good morning which is just that this is
good morning which is just that this is everybody on Twitter saying good morning
everybody on Twitter saying good morning
everybody on Twitter saying good morning the people who are green dots those are
the people who are green dots those are
the people who are green dots those are people who get up early the people who
people who get up early the people who
people who get up early the people who are red dots you’ll see lots on the west
are red dots you’ll see lots on the west
are red dots you’ll see lots on the west coast as we move over are people who get
coast as we move over are people who get
coast as we move over are people who get up a little bit later so this is really
up a little bit later so this is really
up a little bit later so this is really exciting simple data but it’s something
exciting simple data but it’s something
exciting simple data but it’s something that we’ve never seen before this is a
that we’ve never seen before this is a
that we’ve never seen before this is a revelatory thing it was a revelatory
revelatory thing it was a revelatory
revelatory thing it was a revelatory thing for me now I spent two and a half
thing for me now I spent two and a half
thing for me now I spent two and a half years at the New York Times that was the
years at the New York Times that was the
years at the New York Times that was the data artist-in-residence a lot of you
data artist-in-residence a lot of you
data artist-in-residence a lot of you are asking I did make up that title and
are asking I did make up that title and
are asking I did make up that title and I worked I worked with this guy his name
I worked I worked with this guy his name
I worked I worked with this guy his name is Mark Hansen he’s a statistician and
is Mark Hansen he’s a statistician and
is Mark Hansen he’s a statistician and together we built a tool to look at how
together we built a tool to look at how
together we built a tool to look at how all of the content that the x produces
all of the content that the x produces
all of the content that the x produces is being shared through social networks
is being shared through social networks
is being shared through social networks we knew that people were talking about
we knew that people were talking about
we knew that people were talking about these things but we didn’t really know
these things but we didn’t really know
these things but we didn’t really know much about that so when I think about
much about that so when I think about
much about that so when I think about complex datasets like this I always
complex datasets like this I always
complex datasets like this I always think how can we build an exploratory
think how can we build an exploratory
think how can we build an exploratory tool how can we build a vehicle that
tool how can we build a vehicle that
tool how can we build a vehicle that lets us explore this data and lets us
lets us explore this data and lets us
lets us explore this data and lets us find the little pieces of it that might
find the little pieces of it that might
find the little pieces of it that might be interesting so we built this tool
be interesting so we built this tool
be interesting so we built this tool called cascade so this is a cascade for
called cascade so this is a cascade for
called cascade so this is a cascade for a story called island where people
a story called island where people
a story called island where people forgot to die about an island in the
forgot to die about an island in the
forgot to die about an island in the Mediterranean where people live very
Mediterranean where people live very
Mediterranean where people live very long even longer than the neighboring
long even longer than the neighboring
long even longer than the neighboring islands and so we see all of the traffic
islands and so we see all of the traffic
islands and so we see all of the traffic in this story and then the interesting
in this story and then the interesting
in this story and then the interesting thing that I that I like about this is
thing that I that I like about this is
thing that I that I like about this is that we can put this two-dimensional
that we can put this two-dimensional
that we can put this two-dimensional view into three dimensions and we can
view into three dimensions and we can
view into three dimensions and we can see the separate threads of conversation
see the separate threads of conversation
see the separate threads of conversation that exist within that discussion and I
that exist within that discussion and I
that exist within that discussion and I was so excited to see this for the first
was so excited to see this for the first
was so excited to see this for the first time I call these the architectures of
time I call these the architectures of
time I call these the architectures of conversation we’re seeing the actual
conversation we’re seeing the actual
conversation we’re seeing the actual structure of a conversation as people
structure of a conversation as people
structure of a conversation as people are sharing and talking about this
are sharing and talking about this
are sharing and talking about this specific story and every story has one
specific story and every story has one
specific story and every story has one of these Cascades and one of the things
of these Cascades and one of the things
of these Cascades and one of the things that we were really pleased to find out
that we were really pleased to find out
that we were really pleased to find out was that different types of stories have
was that different types of stories have
was that different types of stories have different structures so for example
different structures so for example
different structures so for example nicholas kristof his structures tend to
nicholas kristof his structures tend to
nicholas kristof his structures tend to be like shrubbery they they’re low and
be like shrubbery they they’re low and
be like shrubbery they they’re low and they spread very far whereas current
they spread very far whereas current
they spread very far whereas current events stories tend to be tall like
events stories tend to be tall like
events stories tend to be tall like Christmas trees because people share
Christmas trees because people share
Christmas trees because people share them very quickly but they don’t share
them very quickly but they don’t share
them very quickly but they don’t share them very long you know I kind of felt
them very long you know I kind of felt
them very long you know I kind of felt like I was uncovering something that
like I was uncovering something that
like I was uncovering something that that was being seen for the first time
that was being seen for the first time
that was being seen for the first time and these structures allowed us to talk
and these structures allowed us to talk
and these structures allowed us to talk about this in a real way right now now
about this in a real way right now now
about this in a real way right now now we can talk about sharing in more than
we can talk about sharing in more than
we can talk about sharing in more than these kind of loose very loose
these kind of loose very loose
these kind of loose very loose conceptual terms now I’ve been I’ve been
conceptual terms now I’ve been I’ve been
conceptual terms now I’ve been I’ve been annoyed a little bit lately because
annoyed a little bit lately because
annoyed a little bit lately because people talk about visualization as a
people talk about visualization as a
people talk about visualization as a thing it’s like
thing it’s like
thing it’s like make me a visualization visualization is
make me a visualization visualization is
make me a visualization visualization is a down but it’s a verbal noun it has a
a down but it’s a verbal noun it has a
a down but it’s a verbal noun it has a verb built into it it’s visualization is
verb built into it it’s visualization is
verb built into it it’s visualization is a process and I like to think about
a process and I like to think about
a process and I like to think about myself as sometimes as a question farmer
myself as sometimes as a question farmer
myself as sometimes as a question farmer and I’m visualizing to get more
and I’m visualizing to get more
and I’m visualizing to get more questions out of things and often these
questions out of things and often these
questions out of things and often these things are just things that I do for fun
things are just things that I do for fun
things are just things that I do for fun so this is that the original Kepler
so this is that the original Kepler
so this is that the original Kepler project paper that was released about
project paper that was released about
project paper that was released about two years ago
two years ago
two years ago you can tell it’s important because
you can tell it’s important because
you can tell it’s important because there’s like 85 authors on that paper
there’s like 85 authors on that paper
there’s like 85 authors on that paper and when it was released I was very
and when it was released I was very
and when it was released I was very excited in it and I sat down to read it
excited in it and I sat down to read it
excited in it and I sat down to read it and I got to these like well stunningly
and I got to these like well stunningly
and I got to these like well stunningly gripping graphics you know and I don’t
gripping graphics you know and I don’t
gripping graphics you know and I don’t want it I don’t want to talk bad about
want it I don’t want to talk bad about
want it I don’t want to talk bad about these graphics because for astronomers
these graphics because for astronomers
these graphics because for astronomers these graphics are very important and
these graphics are very important and
these graphics are very important and probably very exciting but for most of
probably very exciting but for most of
probably very exciting but for most of us in the room with a couple exceptions
us in the room with a couple exceptions
us in the room with a couple exceptions they’re probably not that exciting right
they’re probably not that exciting right
they’re probably not that exciting right so so I thought how could I understand
so so I thought how could I understand
so so I thought how could I understand this system a little bit better so I sat
this system a little bit better so I sat
this system a little bit better so I sat down for about a day and I created a
down for about a day and I created a
down for about a day and I created a visualization of that data so what
visualization of that data so what
visualization of that data so what you’re seeing here is we zoom in all of
you’re seeing here is we zoom in all of
you’re seeing here is we zoom in all of those planets that had been discovered
those planets that had been discovered
those planets that had been discovered at the time from Kepler as if they were
at the time from Kepler as if they were
at the time from Kepler as if they were orbiting around a single star so right
orbiting around a single star so right
orbiting around a single star so right away I was able to see that these
away I was able to see that these
away I was able to see that these planets they’re very close to their star
planets they’re very close to their star
planets they’re very close to their star they’re very large they’re very hot and
they’re very large they’re very hot and
they’re very large they’re very hot and in understanding that I was actually
in understanding that I was actually
in understanding that I was actually able to understand the way that this
able to understand the way that this
able to understand the way that this data was being measured a little bit
data was being measured a little bit
data was being measured a little bit better so here I’m thinking about a
better so here I’m thinking about a
better so here I’m thinking about a couple of things I’m thinking how can we
couple of things I’m thinking how can we
couple of things I’m thinking how can we take a data set and how can we view it
take a data set and how can we view it
take a data set and how can we view it from different angles both conceptual
from different angles both conceptual
from different angles both conceptual angles and actual physical angles to be
angles and actual physical angles to be
angles and actual physical angles to be able to discover a little bit more about
able to discover a little bit more about
able to discover a little bit more about the data but I’m I love this project
the data but I’m I love this project
the data but I’m I love this project because it encapsulates a strategy that
because it encapsulates a strategy that
because it encapsulates a strategy that I have I think very well and maybe
I have I think very well and maybe
I have I think very well and maybe better than any other project that I’ve
better than any other project that I’ve
better than any other project that I’ve done and this strategy it’s a two word
done and this strategy it’s a two word
done and this strategy it’s a two word strategy it’s called new uh and that
strategy it’s called new uh and that
strategy it’s called new uh and that means the first thing that I want people
means the first thing that I want people
means the first thing that I want people to do is I want them to say ooh when
to do is I want them to say ooh when
to do is I want them to say ooh when they see the visualization but that o is
they see the visualization but that o is
they see the visualization but that o is useless unless there’s an AA I want that
useless unless there’s an AA I want that
useless unless there’s an AA I want that learned moment that comes okay that
learned moment that comes okay that
learned moment that comes okay that comes from from really being able to
comes from from really being able to
comes from from really being able to discover something that you didn’t
discover something that you didn’t
discover something that you didn’t understand before and I think if you
understand before and I think if you
understand before and I think if you looked at every visualization that’s
looked at every visualization that’s
looked at every visualization that’s been made all my visualizations included
been made all my visualizations included
been made all my visualizations included we can look at them and say is there too
we can look at them and say is there too
we can look at them and say is there too much oh and not enough or maybe there’s
much oh and not enough or maybe there’s
much oh and not enough or maybe there’s too much and not enough
too much and not enough
too much and not enough booooo meaning that only the people who
booooo meaning that only the people who
booooo meaning that only the people who are really deeply fascinated in that
are really deeply fascinated in that
are really deeply fascinated in that specific thing are ever going to pay
specific thing are ever going to pay
specific thing are ever going to pay attention to it so a little bit later we
attention to it so a little bit later we
attention to it so a little bit later we took
took
took the same project and working with the
the same project and working with the
the same project and working with the team in in Los Angeles at a company
team in in Los Angeles at a company
team in in Los Angeles at a company called oblong we built this gestural
called oblong we built this gestural
called oblong we built this gestural interface for it which was really
interface for it which was really
interface for it which was really exciting for me so some of you as you’re
exciting for me so some of you as you’re
exciting for me so some of you as you’re watching this video may have the same
watching this video may have the same
watching this video may have the same thought that that most people do when
thought that that most people do when
thought that that most people do when they see this video which is a Minority
they see this video which is a Minority
they see this video which is a Minority Report and there’s a reason for that is
Report and there’s a reason for that is
Report and there’s a reason for that is because this is the John endo Koffler
because this is the John endo Koffler
because this is the John endo Koffler who was the designer behind Minority
who was the designer behind Minority
who was the designer behind Minority Report this is his company so they’re
Report this is his company so they’re
Report this is his company so they’re taking these things and moving them into
taking these things and moving them into
taking these things and moving them into the future so I started a company in
the future so I started a company in
the future so I started a company in January called the office for creative
January called the office for creative
January called the office for creative research so we’re a multidisciplinary
research so we’re a multidisciplinary
research so we’re a multidisciplinary research group and we’re thinking a lot
research group and we’re thinking a lot
research group and we’re thinking a lot about new engagements with data and how
about new engagements with data and how
about new engagements with data and how we can bring data to the public in
we can bring data to the public in
we can bring data to the public in really interesting ways and one of the
really interesting ways and one of the
really interesting ways and one of the things that we’ve been doing and one of
things that we’ve been doing and one of
things that we’ve been doing and one of the things we’ve been focusing on is how
the things we’ve been focusing on is how
the things we’ve been focusing on is how do we bring data into public space
do we bring data into public space
do we bring data into public space because usually we experience data in
because usually we experience data in
because usually we experience data in front of this glowing screen or we might
front of this glowing screen or we might
front of this glowing screen or we might experience it in a newspaper and a
experience it in a newspaper and a
experience it in a newspaper and a magazine but how do we experience it in
magazine but how do we experience it in
magazine but how do we experience it in public how do we experience it together
public how do we experience it together
public how do we experience it together so this is a project that we worked on
so this is a project that we worked on
so this is a project that we worked on which is a permanent installation at the
which is a permanent installation at the
which is a permanent installation at the University of Texas called
University of Texas called
University of Texas called and that’s the way it is and what you’re
and that’s the way it is and what you’re
and that’s the way it is and what you’re seeing here is you’re seeing entities
seeing here is you’re seeing entities
seeing here is you’re seeing entities being extracted from from all of the
being extracted from from all of the
being extracted from from all of the news feeds in Austin Texas so this runs
news feeds in Austin Texas so this runs
news feeds in Austin Texas so this runs every day we analyzed the news feeds
every day we analyzed the news feeds
every day we analyzed the news feeds from Austin Texas and we extract these
from Austin Texas and we extract these
from Austin Texas and we extract these what we call meaningful entities from
what we call meaningful entities from
what we call meaningful entities from them so at this point there was a
them so at this point there was a
them so at this point there was a drought in in in Colorado so you see
drought in in in Colorado so you see
drought in in in Colorado so you see some words tied to that drought in
some words tied to that drought in
some words tied to that drought in Colorado but depending on the day that
Colorado but depending on the day that
Colorado but depending on the day that you were viewing this experience would
you were viewing this experience would
you were viewing this experience would be different so to give you an idea of
be different so to give you an idea of
be different so to give you an idea of scale this is five stories tall in 140
scale this is five stories tall in 140
scale this is five stories tall in 140 feet wide this video gives you a little
feet wide this video gives you a little
feet wide this video gives you a little bit better of an idea of what it feels
bit better of an idea of what it feels
bit better of an idea of what it feels like to stand in front of that building
like to stand in front of that building
like to stand in front of that building and we’ve had this really interesting
and we’ve had this really interesting
and we’ve had this really interesting experience with this project where where
experience with this project where where
experience with this project where where people are actually sitting down every
people are actually sitting down every
people are actually sitting down every night to come and watch the news which
night to come and watch the news which
night to come and watch the news which we’ve really been excited excited by so
we’ve really been excited excited by so
we’ve really been excited excited by so information has really changed in scale
information has really changed in scale
information has really changed in scale that that is is clear to us but one of
that that is is clear to us but one of
that that is is clear to us but one of the things that I think I want to bring
the things that I think I want to bring
the things that I think I want to bring to this conversation is the ideas maybe
to this conversation is the ideas maybe
to this conversation is the ideas maybe sometimes data is not what we think it
sometimes data is not what we think it
sometimes data is not what we think it is and we can engage with it in very
is and we can engage with it in very
is and we can engage with it in very different in interesting ways this is a
different in interesting ways this is a
different in interesting ways this is a map of all the hotels in the world well
map of all the hotels in the world well
map of all the hotels in the world well not all of them but most of them 700,000
not all of them but most of them 700,000
not all of them but most of them 700,000 hotels pretty interesting data set but a
hotels pretty interesting data set but a
hotels pretty interesting data set but a pretty hard one to think about how are
pretty hard one to think about how are
pretty hard one to think about how are we going to jump into this and give
we going to jump into this and give
we going to jump into this and give people an experience of it because
people an experience of it because
people an experience of it because hotels are lived
hotels are lived
hotels are lived perience right there’s something that we
perience right there’s something that we
perience right there’s something that we stay in and sleep in it and interact in
stay in and sleep in it and interact in
stay in and sleep in it and interact in so we in we built this project for the
so we in we built this project for the
so we in we built this project for the Vancouver Art Gallery and and the
Vancouver Art Gallery and and the
Vancouver Art Gallery and and the thinking around this project was really
thinking around this project was really
thinking around this project was really heavily based on this sketch which is a
heavily based on this sketch which is a
heavily based on this sketch which is a sketch by Jack Kerouac to explain the
sketch by Jack Kerouac to explain the
sketch by Jack Kerouac to explain the novel on the road and we thought what
novel on the road and we thought what
novel on the road and we thought what would happen if we took maps like this
would happen if we took maps like this
would happen if we took maps like this that we would extract from fiction and
that we would extract from fiction and
that we would extract from fiction and we use them as a framework to travel
we use them as a framework to travel
we use them as a framework to travel through that database of 700,000 stories
through that database of 700,000 stories
through that database of 700,000 stories so the idea goes kind of like this
so the idea goes kind of like this
so the idea goes kind of like this through one of the stories that we work
through one of the stories that we work
through one of the stories that we work with most is Lolita and we say if the
with most is Lolita and we say if the
with most is Lolita and we say if the characters of Lolita were travelling
characters of Lolita were travelling
characters of Lolita were travelling around America today staying in the same
around America today staying in the same
around America today staying in the same places that they stayed in the novel
places that they stayed in the novel
places that they stayed in the novel which hotels would they stay in how much
which hotels would they stay in how much
which hotels would they stay in how much would they pay what would the user
would they pay what would the user
would they pay what would the user reviews of those hotels look like so we
reviews of those hotels look like so we
reviews of those hotels look like so we built this system which runs over and
built this system which runs over and
built this system which runs over and over and over and over again with a set
over and over and over again with a set
over and over and over again with a set of about 30 novels we’re building a
of about 30 novels we’re building a
of about 30 novels we’re building a system that users are going to be able
system that users are going to be able
system that users are going to be able to add to the system so that we can
to add to the system so that we can
to add to the system so that we can explore this really complex data set but
explore this really complex data set but
explore this really complex data set but this really culturally important data
this really culturally important data
this really culturally important data set through a really human system in
set through a really human system in
set through a really human system in this case the human system of fiction
this case the human system of fiction
this case the human system of fiction you know my problem with our discussion
you know my problem with our discussion
you know my problem with our discussion around data right now it’s basically
around data right now it’s basically
around data right now it’s basically encapsulated in this quote which not
encapsulated in this quote which not
encapsulated in this quote which not surprisingly comes from an advertising
surprisingly comes from an advertising
surprisingly comes from an advertising executive data is the new oil data is
executive data is the new oil data is
executive data is the new oil data is not the new oil first of all I’m data as
not the new oil first of all I’m data as
not the new oil first of all I’m data as we I hope we’ve starting to learn is
we I hope we’ve starting to learn is
we I hope we’ve starting to learn is deeply human and and and this is
deeply human and and and this is
deeply human and and and this is something that is tied to us in all
something that is tied to us in all
something that is tied to us in all kinds of different ways and there’s a
kinds of different ways and there’s a
kinds of different ways and there’s a quote by laszlo barabasi which I really
quote by laszlo barabasi which I really
quote by laszlo barabasi which I really like and really summarizes what I think
like and really summarizes what I think
like and really summarizes what I think could be the future of our relationship
could be the future of our relationship
could be the future of our relationship with data do we want to stop different
with data do we want to stop different
with data do we want to stop different transmitted diseases do you want to
transmitted diseases do you want to
transmitted diseases do you want to design better cities do we want to stop
design better cities do we want to stop
design better cities do we want to stop traffic jams well the data to do so is
traffic jams well the data to do so is
traffic jams well the data to do so is there in private hands and we need to
there in private hands and we need to
there in private hands and we need to identify some social consensus by which
identify some social consensus by which
identify some social consensus by which the data can be shared with the
the data can be shared with the
the data can be shared with the different stakeholders so you can take
different stakeholders so you can take
different stakeholders so you can take advantage of that so the underlying
advantage of that so the underlying
advantage of that so the underlying thing that I’m trying to do with my work
thing that I’m trying to do with my work
thing that I’m trying to do with my work is I’m trying to push this type of
is I’m trying to push this type of
is I’m trying to push this type of agenda how can we get things to really
agenda how can we get things to really
agenda how can we get things to really change through our conversation with
change through our conversation with
change through our conversation with data well I think some part of that has
data well I think some part of that has
data well I think some part of that has already happened and I think there is a
already happened and I think there is a
already happened and I think there is a lot of discussion about data and
lot of discussion about data and
lot of discussion about data and possibility there is a lot there are a
possibility there is a lot there are a
possibility there is a lot there are a lot of things that we can do with data
lot of things that we can do with data
lot of things that we can do with data and we know that and we’re excited about
and we know that and we’re excited about
and we know that and we’re excited about that in tandem though there is a whole
that in tandem though there is a whole
that in tandem though there is a whole question about data and ethics how does
question about data and ethics how does
question about data and ethics how does this affect us how does it affect our
this affect us how does it affect our
this affect us how does it affect our human lives and how can we make sure
human lives and how can we make sure
human lives and how can we make sure that our choices with data are gonna be
that our choices with data are gonna be
that our choices with data are gonna be better choices than the ones we made
better choices than the ones we made
better choices than the ones we made with oil right that’s my that’s my
with oil right that’s my that’s my
with oil right that’s my that’s my biggest problem with that metaphor like
biggest problem with that metaphor like
biggest problem with that metaphor like everyone thinks this is such a good
everyone thinks this is such a good
everyone thinks this is such a good thing data is the new oil it’s like we
thing data is the new oil it’s like we
thing data is the new oil it’s like we need another oil like we’re in so much
need another oil like we’re in so much
need another oil like we’re in so much trouble already so I’ve taken I’ve taken
trouble already so I’ve taken I’ve taken
trouble already so I’ve taken I’ve taken 14 minutes now to really answer a
14 minutes now to really answer a
14 minutes now to really answer a question which I’m sure that a lot of
question which I’m sure that a lot of
question which I’m sure that a lot of you had when you heard me introduced
you had when you heard me introduced
you had when you heard me introduced which is why data art and why data
which is why data art and why data
which is why data art and why data artists and the third thing is that I
artists and the third thing is that I
artists and the third thing is that I really think that this conversation can
really think that this conversation can
really think that this conversation can only move forward by combining dialogue
only move forward by combining dialogue
only move forward by combining dialogue not only from scientists not only from
not only from scientists not only from
not only from scientists not only from industry but also from poets from from
industry but also from poets from from
industry but also from poets from from actors and-and-and from all of these
actors and-and-and from all of these
actors and-and-and from all of these these traditions the more traditional
these traditions the more traditional
these traditions the more traditional forms of art which we know are really
forms of art which we know are really
forms of art which we know are really effective at driving driving change in
effective at driving driving change in
effective at driving driving change in driving conversation thank you
”
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