About the author

Map, Programming

We learned and utilized many new technologies in this project. Unlike the Adversity index map where we didn’t have proper server-side tool to handle big data set and we had to use hacks, this project uses a brand new server-side tool to do the heavy lifting.

We built the server-side code using Django framework. This is the first time we are using this framework and it is awesome. It makes my life as a web developer much easier, especially when I was completely new to it.

For this project, we built a framework in AS3 that allows flash to communicate with the server and to make requests in real time. The framework makes it easy to parse responses from the server and deliver them to different parts of the application. With that, we are able to support deep linking, back button and breadcrumb.

Design, Map, Programming

I am particularly proud of the world map because we managed to create it from scratch in a day. Even better, I designed the code so that we could reuse the map again without any extra development time. That means editors can just plug in a new data set and the map is ready to go.

View the world map
View the U.S. map

Design, Map, Programming

The Adversity Index, from msnbc.com and Moody’s Economy.com, measures the economic health of 381 metro areas and all 50 states. Each area is in recession, at risk, recovering or expanding. On this map you can explore changes in the four components of the index: employment, housing starts, housing prices and industrial production, each shown as a percentage change from a year earlier.

This map contains more than 350,000 data points. It was a challenge because we didn’t have appropriate database tools to support the map. We had to split the data set into five big chunks and merge them in Flash. I wrote a tool that allow loading data from different subsets and merged them into one data structure that was plotted on the map.

Click here to view the map

Design, Map, Programming

I worked on this project a couple months ago. The data set was interesting and I had full control over how to design and implement it, which was a lot of fun. Because of the short deadline, I didn’t manage to implement all the little details for this map. But in the end, it turned out well.

Click here to view the map

I just got a couple of freelance projects, so I am offline for the next few weeks, maybe couple of months.

Also, just to keep things interesting, I managed to install my first super ultra cool lame app on my iphone :). So what’s the next step? Well I plan to create the next Google :P

I didn’t realize until recently how small the field of data visualization and information graphics actually is. I have been following the blogs of most people in this list. And even after searching around, I found only a few more.

I have been fortunate to know, work with and learn from many from this list. I hope that one day, I will get to meet with the rest.

If you know of anybody who is not on this list, please let me know.

Updated Jan 5, 2009 – Many thanks to Zachary Forest Johnson from indiemaps.com and Tom Carden from Stamen design.

Click on image to see full size.

I remember watching the Apple’s ad and thinking it was funny. Most of us are somewhat tired of the “I am a Mac, I am a PC” ads, but from time to time, Apple makes one that’s worth watching.

One of Microsoft’s “I am a PC” ads made it to the list. These ads remind me how old school and traditional Microsoft is. I am still not sure if it is a good thing or not.

via Nielsen Wire

Vladimir Loginov and Maksim Loginov from www.handmadefont.com designed a beautiful and unique set of fonts. Here are a few of my favorites. There are a lot more here if you want to check them out.

Toaster

Handwritten

Concrete and rock

If you have not read this book yet, then you need to order it now. I was skeptical about the book because I thought it tries to cover too many topics, thus not going in depth about any of them. I was wrong.

Far from being a boring theoretical book on web development, this book contains a vast amount of useful information with easy-to-understand examples. The book covers the algorithms behind search rankings, online matchmaking, product recommendations and social bookmarking. The author walks you through the theory behind each algorithm and provides examples of how you can write one yourself. You don’t have to be an experienced programmer to understand this book.

The examples in the book are written in Python programming language. You don’t need to know Python before reading this book because the author will teach you. Python is a beautiful and easy-to-learn language. In fact after reading this book, I decided to dump PHP and learn Python instead.