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Data Visualization with JavaScript

sathomas.me

1–10 of 13 posts

Re: Data Visualization with JavaScript

#2
I actually stumbled on this book yesterday. I read a few chapters. What surprised me the most other than the good content if you're in the JS analytics space, but actually the fluidity and level of the writing was so much than what you usually expect to come across in what on the surface of things should be dry. It kept me going for a few more chapters. Hope this catches on.

Re: Data Visualization with JavaScript

#4
Bravo and thanks to another new and free reference. The non-technical writing has to be tightened up a bit though...it seems that the author, when addressing unknown domains, goes too far in assuming that "oh, everyone knows [this/that]"

Examples from the intro page:

http://sathomas.me/jsdataviz/intro.html

- Even the BBC and the New York Times have noticed: Data defines our world. ...OK, both are certainly old organizations...that doesn't necessarily mean both have been slow on the data uptake...

- Yet according to some estimates, 99.5% of the data our systems collect goes to waste. No one ever analyzes it effectively. - Uh..."some estimates" links to The Register, which has written a story based off of anecdotes...what's that saying about data not being the plural of anecdote? "99.5%" is such an extreme estimate that it sounds like a parody of "44% of all statistics are made up".

- The best visualizations, in fact, impart this understanding subconsciously. Viewers comprehend the data immediately—without thinking. Such presentations free the viewer to more fully consider the implications of the data: the stories it tells, the insights it reveals, or even the warnings it offers. -- Huh?

- If you’re developing web sites or web applications today, there’s a good chance you have data to communicate, and that data may be begging for a good visualization. But how do you know what kind of visualization is appropriate? -- These are all good questions and concerns, but none of them have anything to do with JavaScript, as Edward Tufte was able to tackle this topic before JS was invented.

Yeah, I'm being nitpicky...but the field of data visualization already has too much fluff and confusion. Also, when a writer focuses on a reasonable scope, rather than attempt to play anthropologist/psychologist...there's more time to focus on their actual material.

Re: Data Visualization with JavaScript

#5
Oops. Although I wasn't really trying to keep this a secret, it's just something that's very much still in-progress. It certainly hasn't been edited yet. To be honest, I'm more worried that the material will fall out-of-date before I can finish it. But comments and criticism (kind or otherwise) are still very much welcome. I really do intend to spend more time on this starting in a month or so. Who knows, it folks are really interested that might be enough of an inspiration to finally push through and finish it.

Re: Data Visualization with JavaScript

#6

Oops. Although I wasn't really trying to keep this a secret, it's just something that's very much still in-progress. It certainly hasn't been edited yet. To be honest, I'm more worried that the material will fall out-of-date before I can finish it. But comments and criticism (kind or otherwise) are still very much welcome. I really do intend to spend more time on this starting in a month or so. Who knows, it folks ar…

Now you have the HN editing/grammar-nazi army!

Re: Data Visualization with JavaScript

#7

Oops. Although I wasn't really trying to keep this a secret, it's just something that's very much still in-progress. It certainly hasn't been edited yet. To be honest, I'm more worried that the material will fall out-of-date before I can finish it. But comments and criticism (kind or otherwise) are still very much welcome. I really do intend to spend more time on this starting in a month or so. Who knows, it folks ar…

awesome, thanks for doing this, bookmarking it!
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