Headline, October20, 2013

''' THE WINDS -OF = 

! REAL CHANGE ! '''

''Data Points'' is a useful primer for those who need produce infographics. But for those who merely want to appreciate them, two other books fit the bill, both by Guardian journalists.

In recent years the London-based daily newspaper has promoted a new area called  ''data journalism''. The idea is that reporters must interrogate both people and databases in order to get their information.

Simon Roger's  ''Facts Are Sacred''  is a review of the last few years worth of this data journalism on the paper's website. It brings together some of the best projects and explains how they were done.

The high-water mark was the way the newspaper handled the classified American information released by WikiLeaks in 2010. It took thousands of American field reports from Afghanistan and extracted information on those involving  ''improvised explosive devices''  IED's. 

It then mapped where and when explosion took place and the number of casualties    -so that viewers could explore the data and see changes over time. 

The result was an interactive infographic that described an aspect of the conflict through data alone. The most dangerous area, it turned out, was the south, where British and Canadian troops are based.

The best work in Mr Rogers book is very good indeed, but the mean is low. In too many cases the colourful images and pretty design obscure the info they are mean to depict. 

A massive and intricate chart on the British public spending is just visual gibberish. A circular bar chart comparing China and America places variables alongside each other that have no rapport whatsoever.

In ''The Infographic History of the World'' James Ball and Velentina D' Efilippo, a London-based graphic designer, created around 100 charts that span the Big Bang to modern times. The authors have put as much effort into the design as the data and their book is meant to entertain as much as to inform.

In tracing time, the authors cleverly change the typography and even paper stock from primitive to modern. However, they lose sight of the ultimate purpose, which is to convey information.

In a graphic on marriage and divorce they used a bar chart with spindly points   -points so fine that it is almost impossible to see the actual ''story'' in the data. 

But should these books have been published on paper at all? Today's most impressive work like  ''Wind Map'' , were created to be online

Future Infographics will be digital, data will stream in real-time and viewers interaction will determine what is presented. When this happens, what constitutes a good infographic will change. The revolution has just begun.

With respectful dedication to the Students, Professors and Teachers of Spain. See Ya all on the World Students Society Computers-Internet-Wireless:

''' !!! No Guts. No Accomplishments !!! '''

Good Night & God Bless!

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless