Visual Complexity

Since I started thinking so much about augmented reality, I’ve got information design on the brain.  Data visualization is a natural counterpart.  Visual Complexity is a [four year old - sorry, i'm your grandpa, how do i work this thing] site that gathers impressively designed visualizations of complex information for your geeky delight.  It’s produced by Manuel Lima, who went graduated from the program for Design + Technology at Parsons, in NYC.

(Evidently Helvetica just resolves well in all your standard-issue future interfaces) I’ll know more about it once I pick up some of these interesting books.  In an equally cool-looking but perhaps slightly less useful display of info visualization, Random Walk has compiled images that attempt to interpret randomness in graphical form.  Here, take a peek:

The project RANDOM WALK simulates randomness in visualizations, which are easy to understand. In this way, it delivers insight into a phenomenon, which has so far remained unexplained.

WHAT DOES RANDOMNESS LOOK LIKE?
RANDOM WALK asks this question and presents experiments in mathematics and physics, showing the mysterious interaction of chaos and order in randomness.

For extra Data Viz fun, check out this (also antique) Smashing Magazine article.

book design love

Joe Kral’s Book Collection:

Plus, there’s about eleventy billion more! So get to it, you coversluts.

thx Casual Optimist

The Real Shaq… a hoax?

Questionable.  External verification here.  Unless this is itself a hoax.  But if this is also a hoax, where do the hoaxes end? Is this blog a hoax? Do I only think I’m writing stuff on the internet? Am I a hoax?

Also, this would require a chillingly accurate Shaq impostor and a real Shaq who is curiously quiet for all the fervor over his newly christened internet persona.  What are the odds? What is the likelihood this could be a marketing experiment?

I personally think he’s retired, and wants some company.  judging from the number of followers, he’s definitely got that down.  It took a real celebrity to bring about the sort of fame Cory Doctorow could only dream of, but it looks like that dream is finally being realized.

No freakin way

I rest my case.

why infinity is boring and also probably sucks

Me: Why produce newspaper ads when you can just produce your own newspapers?

Tobi:Good point. Also why print a blog? This is too deep for my little brain cells….

Me: I think it’s mostly an experimental thing right now.  Most people would associate long-term viability with monetization, but I don’t really know how that would work here.  Basically it’s just about breaking down the screen and bringing stuff you never thought you’d see in person into the real world, and the goosebumps/sense of wonder it can bring.

Tobi: Still seems a de-evolution of thought. But then, can we really ever figure out humans….

Me: Why a de-evolution?

Tobi: It’s all about publishing your thoughts, right? Whether by parchment, paper or screen, that’s all a string of words are.  On the screen they live beyond paper. That was one of the cool things about the internet to me.  You are no long confined to a piece of finite paper and a few eyes. But somehow there appears to be a part of us that still thinks the finite is cool??? Or I’m just drinking the water…;_)

Me: I think when we had to deal with the problem of a finite readership the idea that we could blog about anything and have anyone in the world read it sounded great. When we started blogging and realized that no one really read us except for our friends, going back to print brings a personal, and sort of extra-special significance to what has become a pretty pedestrian form of life-sharing (blogging). (This isn’t addressing the whole point, but it’s my immediate reaction.)

Could it? No… really? Watchmen?

I can only hope Devin’s right with this: (thanks Richard)

And how amazing is that? A huge budgeted superhero movie that delivers intellectually? That takes serious, ballsy chances with the form? That isn’t giving audience what they expect, and is possibly not giving them what they want? Why, that sounds like a piece of art. A glorious, epic, exciting, mind blowing piece of art.

9 out of 10

First Post

Comin’ Right Up…