Visualization and empowerment

Data visualization, commonly used to make large sets of numerical data more legible, also has enormous potential as a storytelling tool to elicit insights on long-standing social problems. It can help to synthesize diverse personal narratives about history, causes and impacts, and thereby give a voice to populations seeking to create change. In this work, we explore the potential for using data visualization as a vehicle for social change through creative engagement. Our intent is to design and deploy an interactive visualization of development in the Dominican Republic which brings empathy to the society's cultural psychology, helps frame limitations and challenges, and highlights opportunities for progress. Some of the major challenges in designing this work lie in layering both the “big picture” perspective—historical events and statistical trends—with personal narratives—vivid stories that illuminate the current state of the society. We discuss how this work can fos...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: CANDC
• Authors: Indhira Rojas, Wendy Ju
• Keywords: Author Keywords Visualization, CANDC 2009, Data Visualization, Emerging Technology, Long-standing Social Problems