Data is the new soil

Data can be defined as Information in raw or unorganized form (such as alphabets, numbers, or symbols) that refer or represent conditions, ideas, or objects. Data is limitless and ubiquitous.

Importance of data collection are

·         It provides a snapshot of the overall health and well-being of the organization at any given point in time.

·         It ensures a longitudinal account of the overall status.

·         It provides accountability.

·         It informs the overall health and well-being of the company.

·         It allows you to benchmark against competitors.

·         It allows you to definitively measure change.

The data collected will be usually in hundreds or thousands of rows and columns. Interpreting this huge data is a tedious process. The process of interpreting data can be done in “n” number of ways.  To make an effective and an efficient decision the data should be analyzed carefully. This calls for the visual representation of massive data sets.

Though bar graphs, line graphs and pie charts serve the purpose but for better understanding of the data, visualization is preferred. Periodic Table is one of the best examples of data visualization where we can see the arrangements of atoms, metals, non-metals, noble gases etc across the periodic table. This arrangement and detailed description helps us to understand more quickly.

In today’s world the technology is making everything easy.  Visualization of a data set is preferred over the bar and pie charts and graphs which helps in better understanding. Here anything can be analyzed and relationship can be established. The video link attached with this blog gives much more information on the data visualization. 

Some of the top data visualization applications are

1. BreathingEarth.net 

A real-time simulation displaying the CO2 emissions, birth and death rates of every country.

2. NewsMap.jp

A web application that visually reflects the constantly changing landscape of Google News.

3. DoodleBuzz.com

Create typographic maps of current news stories by doodling on a blank canvas.

4. OurSignal.com

An overview of currently popular items on social news sites such as delicious, reddit, and digg.

5. digg labs

5 visualizations of Digg community’s activities.

6. 3Dlicio.us by Alberto Tellez

View Delicious bookmarks on a 3D globe.

7. HealthMap.org

A visualization of the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on health.

8. VisibleTweets.com

A visualization of Twitter messages, with 3 options of animating the tweets.

9. TwitterVision.com

A real-time geographic visualization of posts to Twitter. Make sure to check the 3D version.

10. FlickrVision.com

Maps live traffic to Flickr. Similar to TwitterVision, the visualization can be viewed in 3D.

11. TagGalaxy.com

A planetary visualization of Flickr tags. Photos are displayed on a 3D globe by clicking the sun.

12. DaylightMap.com

Shows the pattern of night and day with many options such as a near real-time cloud cover.

13. IRIS Seismic Monitor

Displays in near real-time global earthquakes.

14. WikipediaVision by Laszlo Kozma

A visualization of edits to Wikipedia (almost) in real-time.

15. Ptable.com

One of the best, if not the best, periodic table of elements.

16. Lexipedia.com

A powerful language tool that visualizes the meaning of a word.

17. BankOfImagination.com

Explore, create, and share imaginations.

18. WeFeelFine.org

A visualization of human emotions harvested from blog posts.

19. Time Machine by Etsy

Go back in time and watch sold items fly by.

20. ClickWatch by CodeFromThe70s

An inspiring visualization of real-time HTTP traffic.

References

• Why data visualization matters by Julie Steele 
• Why data collection is an essential step in building a result oriented wellness program.
• TED 
• Data Collection Is Important Part For Any Business 
• http://singlefunction.com/20-inspiring-uses-of-data-visualization/