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Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category

Using visuals to analyze and communicate qualitative data

Many of us are aware of the benefits of using visuals to analyze and communicate quantitative data, but what about qualitative data? How can visuals enhance the interpretation of this kind of information? One tool that I have recently used is Wordle. It is a free online

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Visual Voice’s Virtual Office

Just for fun I mapped all the places I have had coffee meetings in the Twin Cities over the past 2 1/2 years. I used Google Docs (a free resource) to create this map and it took less than two minutes to create once I had the

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Data Visualization Tools

Below I have compiled a list of some free data visualization tools you might be interested in checking out…Enjoy! Tools for visualizing public data: Google Public Data Explorer makes large datasets easy to explore, visualize and communicate. As the charts and maps animate over time, the changes in

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Say it with a Postcard

Dreading putting together your annual report or don’t know where to begin? Yesterday I attended a webinar on “The New and Improved Nonprofit Annual Report” hosted by Kivi Leroux Miller. It provided a number of innovative ideas for presenting your annual report information. One idea I thought

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What are my options for presenting my data?

Ever think the only options you have for presenting your information is a line, bar or pie chart? Well, think again. Below is a Periodic Table of Visualization Methods created by Visual-Literacy.org. Don’t limit yourself to one type.

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Why Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is not just a map

Thanks to our guest blogger… I have been involved with development and implementation of Geographic Information Systems, GIS, for almost 20 years and one thing that has always bothered me is when someone would refer to GIS applications as a map. Don’t get me wrong. Maps are

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Baby Name Trends Visualized

This post is just for fun, but thought it would be appropriate with the recent welcoming of a baby boy into our family and going through the name selection process. Choosing a baby name can be a challenging and somewhat daunting task. Not to mention one that

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10 Takeaways from Edward Tufte Course

A couple weeks ago I attended a one-day course on presenting data and information taught by Edward Tufte. It was a thought provoking course with lots of useful tips for effectively presenting information. Here are just a few I jotted down in my notes. Don’t pre specifiy

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Question + Visual Data + Context = Story

Something worth checking out… Matthias Shapiro posted on his blog the free chapter he wrote for the book Beautiful Visualization. In the chapter he discusses the importance of storytelling in information visualization, provides insights about the key steps he uses to create an effective infographic, and includes

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GOOD Transparency “a graphical exploration of the world around us”

If you are looking for a good resource to see how others are creatively portraying complex information on current issues, I would recommend checking out the online GOOD Transparency page –“a graphical exploration of the world around us.” It is also interesting to browse through the discussions

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