statistics: from data and mind to sense and heart
We all know that statistics can reveal interesting things. While their data might be revealing in itself, it is the information in terms of correlations and comparisons that best illustrate statistics added value. But the way in which we ‘communicate’ and ‘experience’ statistics makes all the difference.
Many books have been written on the topic of the visualization and communication of statistics, such as the marvellous works of Edward Tufte (e.g. the visual display of quantitative information, visual explanations: images and quantities, evidence and narrative). Statistics can tell stories and stories – because they contextualize, they bring closer and render abstractions tangible, experiencable – can influence actions, decisions.
In his second talk at TED, Professor of International Health at the renowned Swedish Karolinska Institutet, and co-founder of GapMinder (now part of Google Tools), Hans Rosling shows how statistics can tell their stories in a better way, touching heart and senses as much as mind and calculators.
Not only does he make use of his by now famous animated graphs (cf. Trendalyzer) showing the evolution of data and correlations over time, he also brings in a personal dimension by linking the data over time to for example family events, thereby enhancing the meaningfulness of the stats to its audience (cf. ‘grandma verified statistics’). Rosling also showed Dollarstreet, a project in which the annual income of families across time and the impact thereof on their life situation is brought to life. What does living on 1$ a day mean? How does it compare to 5$ or 10$? What does it mean? Look at the house, the sanitary conditions, the kitchen, the sofa … in the families’ houses and experience the meaning of sheer numbers.
From data and mind to sense and heart …
Image courtesy of gapminder.org
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