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The Evolution Of Data Visualization | Dustin Cabral | TEDxBryantU
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The Evolution Of Data Visualization | Dustin Cabral | TEDxBryantU

The Evolution of Data Visualization

Introduction to the Speaker

  • Dustin Cabral introduces himself and outlines his diverse experiences in data visualization, teaching, and storytelling.
  • He shares a personal anecdote about how an injury led him to shift careers from retail to analytics.

Career Journey

  • After graduating with a management degree in 2009, he began working as a supply planner at FGX, where he had minimal analytical experience.
  • Transitioned to Staples Inc., where he worked on merchandising analytics using tools like Excel and SQL Server.
  • His introduction to Tableau marked a turning point; he became passionate about data visualization and left his job for a full-time role as a Tableau developer at EMC Dell.
  • Returned to Staples as the Tableau lead, building a team of analysts focused on data visualization before moving into consulting with Clear Intelligence.

Importance of Data Visualization

  • Cabral emphasizes that data visualization is one of humanity's most powerful storytelling tools.
  • Defines data visualization as a means to better see and understand surrounding data, categorizing it into three main types: tables, graphs, and maps.

Everyday Use of Data Visualization

  • Highlights common instances where people use data visualization without realizing it (e.g., checking weather apps or tracking packages).

Historical Context of Data Visualization

  • Traces the origins of data visualization back 20,000–30,000 years ago with early tallying sticks like the Ashago bone used for counting.

Ancient Developments

  • Discusses advancements in writing instruments during ancient times that improved accuracy in visualizations (e.g., compass and ruler).

Contributions from Civilizations

  • Mentions Babylonian clay tablets known for mathematical calculations as significant early visualizations.

Renaissance to Industrial Revolution Innovations

  • Describes how inventions like the printing press facilitated rapid dissemination of visual information during this period.

Notable Historical Visualizations

  • Introduces Jon Snow’s cholera map from the 1850s which helped identify sources of disease outbreaks through street-level mapping.

Menard's Cartographical Map

  • Shares insights on Charles Menard’s 1869 map illustrating Napoleon's march to Moscow, showcasing how visual representation can convey complex narratives effectively.

The Evolution of Data Visualization

Historical Context and the Digital Age

  • The speaker discusses historical military campaigns, noting that leaders often return with diminished troops, drawing a parallel to the evolution of data visualization.
  • The digital age is defined as spanning the last 50 years, marked by significant inventions like the personal computer (1970s) and the internet (1980s).
  • A Pew Research Center study illustrates an ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans over recent decades, highlighting increasing polarization since 2014.
  • An example from the Wall Street Journal shows polio cases rising dramatically until the introduction of the vaccine, which led to a sharp decline in cases.

Measuring Progress in Data Visualization

  • The speaker categorizes progress in data visualization into four key areas: speed, data storage, automation, and accessibility.
  • In prehistory (30,000 - 10,000 BC), data visualization was minimal due to harsh living conditions; survival took precedence over creating visualizations.
  • Ancient history saw improvements with writing instruments allowing for more accurate visualizations shared across civilizations but lacked automation.
  • The modern era introduced technologies like the printing press and magnetic storage tape that enhanced data creation and sharing capabilities.

Future Directions for Data Visualization

  • Currently, we have more data than stars in the observable universe—200 billion trillion bytes—raising questions about future handling of such vast information.
  • Democratization of data analysis is essential; lowering barriers allows more individuals to engage with data insights effectively through accessible tools.

Practical Application: Personal Experience with Data Tracking

  • The speaker emphasizes leveraging free tools like Tableau or Power BI for analyzing personal or public datasets without needing extensive coding skills.
  • Personal anecdote about tracking their child's growth using a detailed app showcases practical applications of data visualization in everyday life.
  • Introduces "Callum Tracker 5000," an app designed to monitor various metrics related to their child's growth during infancy.
  • Highlights how this tracking provided unexpected insights into their child's feeding patterns through visualized peaks and valleys on charts.

Data Visualization Insights from Parenting

Tracking Feeding and Diapering Patterns

  • The speaker discusses the challenges of tracking feeding times for their child, noting that different nipple flow rates on bottles significantly impacted feeding speed.
  • An initial dip in bottle consumption was observed when solid foods were introduced into the child's diet, indicating a shift in dietary habits.
  • The speaker presented data to a doctor using a tool called "calum tracker 5000," which was met with confusion as it seemed overly detailed for the doctor's needs.
  • For their second son, Finton, similar recordings were made; results showed he was a faster eater than Calum but had comparable bottle intake.
  • A fun fact shared: there is approximately a 25% chance of encountering a poopy diaper within the first 60 days after birth.

Leveraging Data Visualization in Everyday Life

  • The speaker outlines a three-step plan for utilizing data visualization effectively:
  • Get Inspired: Explore various topics beyond parenting, such as food or politics; there's abundant data available for analysis.
  • Use Free Tools: Leverage accessible tools like Tableau and Power BI to create visualizations without needing extensive technical skills.
  • Share and Explore: Engage with communities through conferences and webinars to connect with others interested in data visualization.
Video description

Dustin hopes that the audience learns how anyone can use data visualization to improve their work, understand their world, and find insights that would otherwise stay hidden. Dustin Cabral is a data analytics consultant at Cleartelligence who specializes in bringing information to life through data visualization and a Bryant University Alumni. He has broad experience building analytics communities in many industries including retail, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and more. His belief is that data visualization can provide clarity, insight, and value to any industry, role, or profession and it's his mission to deliver on that promise. That’s why he has also dedicated his time teaching 14,000+ eLearning students how to leverage data visualization tools like Tableau in their work lives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx