Tuesday, December 19, 2017

The History of Data Visualization


The historical data visualizations in the David Rumsey Collection has been very popular on social media in the past week. If, like me, you are interested in early examples of mapped visualizations you might also like Info We Trust's History of Infographics timeline. Although this interactive timeline isn't restricted to mapped visualizations it does provide a fascinating insight into the earliest known examples of choropleth maps, geological maps and other types of data maps.

This interactive timeline explores the history of data visualization by providing a chronology of some of the earliest examples of different types of information graphics. The timeline itself is in the style of John Ogilby’s 1675 Britannia Atlas. If you are interested in viewing Ogilby's original strip map up close and in detail the David Rumsey Collection has a composite map of The Road from London to Aberistwith.

The History of Infographics is interactive. You can click on any of the historical examples on the timeline to find out more about these early examples of data visualization. Each of the examples also includes a link which takes you to a website which explores the selected information graphic in more detail.

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