Ernesto Ramirez

February 9, 2014

Enjoy these ideas, insights, and other bits of interestingness from around the web.

Disinformation Visualization: How to lie with datavis by Mushon Zer-Aviv. Data may be objective, but once you start using it to tell a story things can get a bit muddled. This niece piece uses great examples to show how data and data visualization can be used to manipulate and skew information.

Every Minute of 2013 Our friends over at ARO took a look at all the data from Saga users. What resulted was two interesting visualizations that shows we are all really just creatures of habit.

How fitness trackers could be used inpatient and outpatient to monitor medication effects by Timothy Aungst. In this short piece, Dr. Aungst makes the argument that fitness trackers, although measuring steps, could give insights into how patients are feeling. I especially enjoyed the use of real data as an example.

Data and its Discontents – notes and reflections from a panel at Microsoft Research Social Computing Symposium by Ethan Zuckerman. There are too many good ideas and interesting thoughts here to spoil it for you. A worthwhile read.

Self Tracking and the Quantified Man by Phoebe Moore. A bit of an older piece, but a nice look at self-tracking and it’s impact on self-management and the workplace from a sociological perspective.

Connecting the Data Dots: Reporter for iPhone by Mills Baker. I enjoyed this piece because it was less an a technical app review and more of a thought piece on self-tracking tools framed by Feltons Reporter app – “It does not seem to be a “play” at something and doesn’t monetize you; it is a tool for self-knowledge.”

Something to Stand On. The economist takes a look at how the shift from service to platform is shaping the digital industry.

From the Forum

Statistical Findings. A great and ongoing discussion on applying statistics to personal data.

Common Blood Test – Sources, Prices, Advice. Where do you go if you want to get a blood test but don’t want to see a doctor?

Health Index Apps – Experiences and Impressions. What are the reliable health indexing services?