Information Visualisation

I was reading an interesting article about developing ways to communicate ideas, information and data easily. Mainly by turning information into images, rather than just text. The above picture is an example used in the article, click on it to view it in all the awful detail. As the problem with that example is, once you have something to compare it to, once it becomes relate-able, it's just shocking.

Though using this technique to show the dangers for vaccines for example is a very good idea (below), as I've no idea whether 25ug of mercury is dangerous to me, yet in the context presented I know I consume more in food. That's a brilliant way to inform people of the comparative dangers, rather than just sending out a bible sized leaflet and feeding scepticism over government information.

Essentially the point being made is with so much information available and surrounding us, we need to develop ways to communicate it effectively. That I completely agree with, what's so wonderful about this digital age is the freedom of information, yet that is limited by how we communicate and utilise it.

Petition Against Mandelson's Web Ban

A comment by Fanman drew my attention to his petition against the plans by Lord Long Pretentious Title mentioned previously. The petition reads:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to abandon Lord Mandelson's plans to ban individuals from the internet based on their use of 'peer to peer' file sharing. The use of P2P is neither illegal nor exclusive to copyright theft. Many free software providers use this form of distribution, as does the BBC’s iPlayer. If citizens are innocent until proven guilty, ISP’s would be forced to monitor internet usage to ensure that no copyrighted material is being transferred. This flagrant disregard for privacy is comparable to forcing the Post Office to search through parcels for photocopied documents or mixtape cassettes. Such requirements would place enormous strain on ISP’s whilst failing to prevent the distribution of copyrighted material through hidden IP’s, http or ftp.

Who is punished in the case of shared family connections? The increasing role of the internet in access to society should not be underestimated. Cutting off households deprives families of education, government services and freedom of speech. We do not see this as a fitting punishment, nor do we believe the breaches in privacy involved to be justifiable under copyright law.

You can sign it here.

Mandelson's UK File Sharing Policy

Mandelson has personally intervened in the Digital Britain report saying that previous plans would take too long to implement. Under his proposal, "internet service providers would be obliged to block access to download sites, throttle broadband connections or even temporarily cut off access for repeat offenders."

So while Lord Long Pretentious title sits back slipping a Whiskey, listening to his wireless and happy with his days work. Just a little point, how on earth is this policy going to work? And why is there no mention of prosecution before cutting peoples phone line?

Torrent sites allow you to download legal files as well as pirated copies so how will they know without looking? People share connections, you can hide your IP address, encrypt and if you base the disconnection on the bases of how much you download, won't people that legally buy or stream films and music be effected?

The internet is incredibly adaptable, the only thing the government could do to stop file sharing is pull the plug. This proposal is unrealistic to say the least. The best thing the music and film industry could do, rather than just trying to sue everyone, would be to work with the digital download industry, as they can not continue to be elitist in an internet age.

The Internet - Stephen Fry Joy

There's an audio post by the wonderful Stephen Fry, about the ashes win, how hate is easier on the internet and he speaks about joy, it's a lovely audio post. Highly recommend listening to it.

Internet

My internet went down for over 12 hours, I was lost, alone and traumatised. Yet most of all I couldn't help but wonder what on earth I did to entertain myself before the net.

Police Raid 'Rave'

This is just incredible, four police cars, a riot van and a police helicopter were sent to shut down an "illegal rave". If of course you consider a rave; 15 people legally in private field, toasting a 30th birthday, while eating burgers and not playing music, all at the late hour of 4 o'clock. How did the police know about this "rave", it was posted on Facebook as an "all-night" party. Or advertised on the internet as a "rave" as the police maintain, a police spokesperson said:

Had it gone ahead, it is likely that far more of our resources would have been used to police the event and there would have been considerable disruption to neighbouring properties.

Indeed a proportional response. Never mind the fact they pre emptive decided that the "ravers" were guilty and it was illegal. Call me old fashioned but no one had complained, you presume that they had no consideration for others and it was 4 pm, if you're going to act, shouldn't it be a response to something illegal.

Anonymous Blogging - NightJack

Clive Davies has a post with some useful links about anonymous blogging and articles on the NightJack case. My thoughts on this have been echoed throughout the Blogosphere. It was not in the greater public interest, NightJack should have remained just that. I value the blogs written by police, doctors, nurses and judges, they shed light on an inner world that would be closed off otherwise.

Anonymity is of course also used for reasons outside of professional conflict or safety concerns. From insults to persona's to escapism to honesty, these are what makes the internet so wonderful, it's freedom, the Times has taken a little of that way for reasons purely clouded.

RE: Is the G20 a lose-lose for Gordon?

There's an interesting article on Political Betting about the G20 summit and the media's reaction to it.

…..this occasion seems to encapsulate the problems in which Labour find themselves. Even in a case where they have not yet done anything wrong, there is no way that they will be given any credit unless they perform the extraordinary.….

Both the forthcoming G20 summit and Brown's Obama visit have been poorly received and reviewed. Is it as PB says that resignation has set in and media are setting upon him? I don't doubt an element of it is that, just as there's an element of deep dislike for Brown, but is there something lurking under that.

The internet has made information freely available to people, it's given a potential voice to any one with a keyboard and internet connection. It's allowed media to report at any moment in the day, from anywhere in the world. Just type a word into Google and you have opinions, articles and information right in front of you in the blink of an eye.

There lies Labours problem, you have to adapt to that. Labour have always manipulated information in a way that any control freak would be in awe of, yet one statement or tip off now, isn't just one, it's thousands as it's passed around the web like Chinese whispers. They can't control that, but they've not adapted to it either, and until they do they're not managing exceptions or communicating clearly. They're just giving away ammo to shoot at them with.