Keynote Address
Tuesday, January 8, 12:45 Haleakala Ballroom, Grand Wailea, Maui

	Visualization Culture: Data Literacy for the Rest of Us by Fernanda B. Viegas Leader – Google’s “Big Picture” data visualization groups http://fernandaviegas.com

Our Keynote Speaker is Fernanda B. Viegas, whose work focuses on the social, collaborative, and artistic aspects of information visualization. Dr. Viégas received her PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from the MIT Media Lab in 2005. The same year she began work at the Cambridge location of IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center as part of the Visual Communication Lab. In April 2010, she and Martin M. Wattenberg started a new venture called Flowing Media, Inc. to focus on visualization aimed at consumers and mass audiences. Four months later, both of them joined Google as co-leaders of its "Big Picture" data visualization group in Cambridge, MA.

Abstract

Data visualization has historically been accessible only to the elite in academia, business, and government. It was "serious" technology, created by experts for experts. In recent years, however, web-based visualizations -- ranging from political art projects to news stories -- have reached audiences of millions.

What will this new era of data transparency look like -- and what are the implications for technologists who work with data? To help answer this question, I report on recent research into public data analysis and visualization. I'll also show how the art world has embraced visualization.

Finally, I'll discuss the future of visual literacy and what it means for a world where visualizations are a part of political discussions, citizen activism, religious discussions, game playing, and educational exchanges.