Data! Data!

There are times when I will read a really interesting article, but a third of the way through it, I start skipping through it. I realized after having this happen multiple times == .But I like this stuff! Why am I ignoring part of it? .== that the reason was that I wanted a feeling for what was coming. I wanted a ten thousand foot view so that I could see if it would be worth spending my time on the article. And, to be fair, I wanted to cherry-pick the good stuff, and then, if it was worth it, go back to the supporting material.

Theres no way (that I know of) to get that 'zoom up to ten thousand, back down to fifty, up to five hundred, back to the first part, zip around' ability short of printing the article on paper and leafing through it (which I sometimes do) but the desire for that ability, as well as a yearning for self-organizing data (something that would make trends and key points in data obvious to even me, without having to think about it) is something that I've had for quite a while. I keep hoping, and when I see articles on data visualization, I always read them, even when, as is frequently the case, I don't actually understand them, let alone the techniques that make them work.

Its therefore ironic that my most recent awareness of my desire for zoom/cherrypick/zoom came when I was reading this article on the very concept- data visualization techniques - that might make it possible. I have to say, the article doesn't give me that magic quick view bullet -- but I also have to say, it's an interesting read, even down at ground level.