Social Networking and Japan

Social networking sights have been a vital source for communication and information in the days after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In the moments after the disaster struck, Twitter was the main form of communication. Because the phone lines were blocked out, people in Japan tweeted family and friends to let them know their situation. The amount of tweets coming out of Tokyo per minute was at 1,188, according to the “Tweet-o-Meter" shown above. The West Coast of the United States found out about the quake sooner than the rest of the world because of their earthquake threats, and they used Twitter to spread the message around the world.

People have also been communicating with their leaders as well. For example, a trending topic on Twitter in Japan has been #edano_nero, which, in Japanese, means “Sleep Edano.” Yukio Edano is the Japanese Cabinet secretary, and he has been working tirelessly for his people since the earthquake and tsunami hit. Another trending topic has been #kan_okiro, which means “Wake up Kan.” Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s approval ratings had dropped before the quake, and they have not improved since.

Outside of Japan, social networking sights have also been beneficial. With trending topics on Twitter, groups and events on Facebook, and even a button on Google that can take people to links on the latest news coming out of Japan, the world has been connected in the cause of aiding Japan. These sites are updating and informing people, and offering ways for people to give relief and aid. In many different ways, social networking sights have been an important part of Japan’s recovery.

Caring For Japan Long After 2011

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan have significantly affected the country in a number of different ways. In addition the devastating damage and tragedy that has shocked Japan is not too different from the 2009 earthquake in Haiti.

As the nation of Haiti tried to rebuild its demolished country they struggled to wind up the money needed to do so. As a result, multiple organizations were established for Haitian relief. However, many of the organizations were established right after the earthquake took place and have since then dwindled though the Haitian problems have not.

The question is, how can we prevent this from happening to Japan? With the organizations established, the goals need not be the immediate solution to a nations plight, but instead solutions that would have lasting effects. So instead of setting up quick “texting” organizations or events like that, we need to look further and focus on developing organizations that would have a bigger impact on the countries and truly prove to be of a progressive nature.

Less than few hours, Tsunami swept metropolitan Japanese cities into the influx of dumpsters. However, Tsunami not only brought changes in the sociocultural geography in Japan but also the global geographic shift.

As a result of unprecedentedly massive Japanese Tsunami, the axis of rotation moved 16.5 cm and earth’s rotation velocity became 1.8 second per 100 million minute faster. Even the nearest neighbor, Korea has been shifted at least 5 meter to the Pacific Ocean. Due to Korean shift towards east, the risk of crash between Korea and Japan escalated.

Based on the prior experience of geographic shift caused by San Francescan and Chilean earthquakes (which moved the globe 2 meters), scientists are paying attention to the subtle movements in East Asia to prevent collision between continents and prospective problems in shifted countries.

Nuclear Threat in Japan

According to the New York Times, officials in Japan have began evacuating the areas surrounding the nuclear plants that were effected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. As radiation levels have increased over the last few days at the Fukushima plant, not only civilians in the area surrounding the plants have been evacuated, but emergency workers who were sent to the plant to try and prevent an explosion have left the area. A blast at reactor number three at the plant was the initial incident that has now escalated into a full-fledged nuclear crisis in Japan.

The subsequent explosions at the plant have left Japan in a dangerous situation. The threat of a large-scale nuclear explosion has now become a stark reality in Japan. All that stands between the plant and a nuclear meltdown are 50 loyal workers at the plant. Already, these workers are being regarded by many as heroes for their bravery in the face of extreme danger in an attempt to prevent even more disaster.
Fuel rods that have become extremely overheated are the main source of the problem at the Fukushima plant, and cooling attempts so far have been ineffective. Now, workers have resorted to constantly spraying the rods with cool water in an attempt to prevent another fire or explosion to the damaged rods. This danger not only effects the immediate safety of the workers of the plant and those in the area, but if the plant were to have a large nuclear meltdown, the effects could be felt as far as the West Coast of the United States.

No electricity affects more than just Japan

Temperatures are below freezing. In some places, there is even snow. Less than a week after the major disaster, it is still as if that day has not ended for the Japanese. Without electricity and heat, the Japanese are suffering extreme consequences. For one example, a two-year-old child’s life is threatened by the loss of power. Maleek Cavanagh has tracheostomy and uses a pump at home to help breathe. Though it runs on AC power, it needs electricity to charge after one hour. For Maleek, electricity is a necessity, not a luxury.

Due to the lack of electrical energy, Japanese companies are trying to preserve power. However, this does not affect Japan alone. Because electronic and automobile companies are suspending production, Chinese exports will be affected as well. Such companies include Toyota, Nikon, and Sony. Japanese plants also provide 60% of silicon in the world used in LCD panels. 35% of flash memory used in high-tech products are manufactured in Japan as well, slowing down the production of devices such as the new iPad 2. If enough energy cannot be generated to make these key components, other companies will be negatively affected since they will have to suspend some products until the electrical problem in Japan is fixed.

In Japan’s busiest city, Tokyo, power supplies have been cut by a quarter, resulting in blackouts lasting several hours. Though these blackouts are temporary, they the city will be in this state for an estimated six months. According to Citigroup, “Japan may face ‘irreversible’ damage to power-supply capacity from the March 11 earthquake, limiting business activity.”

Business in Japan

The recent earthquake and tsunami in japan has already had astronomical affects on business and economy. With all the power outages and building destruction business is almost impossible to do at this time. No one can get to work in the midst of this destruction. How will the economy be affected by this?

This business downfall could result from the high cost it will take to rebuild Japan after this tragedy. With towns completely washed away it is expected to take up to $200 billion dollars to rebuild the shattered nation. Japan has the third highest economy in the world, but after the quake it is unsure whether or not they will be able to keep this title.

Japans agricultural business will greatly feel the effects of the tsunami and quakes. These before and after photos show how fields and grassy areas were completely ruined by the waves that carried hazardous materials. Once grassy and green, they are now brown and dead. Japan also accounted for 15% of the worlds fish catching, which also will be affected because of the disastrous affects of the the tsunami and quake. The radiation emitted from the shaken nuclear plant is expected to contaminate fish is the winds change directions. Overall, the quake and tsunami are expected to have astronomical affects of Japan’s business industry.

Post-Tsunami & Earthquake Health Issues in Japan

The 8.9 Earthquake and the following tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, has left Japan devastated. The people of Japan's health is at risk due to the contaminated waters, polluted airs, the nuclear plants, and more. There are immediate health concerns, secondary effects, and long- lasting health effects that are affecting Japan. After the rescue of survivors, clean water, food, and shelter are primary public health issues. Due to the tsunami and the earthquake, physical injuries, such as broken bones and head injuries, have afflicted the people of Japan. Also contributing to the people's distress and taking a toll on their health is the lack of healthcare and medical care as well as contaminated waters and widespread debris.

Another very serious health issue in Japan has to do with the nuclear reactors and the increasing exposure to radiation. At the moment, only the workers are affected by the radiation. The Japanese Health Ministry raised the legal limit of radiation exposure to 250 millisieverts a year to enable the 50 or so workers efforts to bring the nuclear power plant back under control. The workers are currently struggling to cool overheating nuclear reactors, exposing themselves to the radiation. The radiation causes both stochastic and non-stochastic health effects, which could include cancer, changes in DNA, mutations, burns, and other sicknesses depending on how exposed they are.

The earthquake and tsunami have hurt the people of Japan physically and emotionally. The destruction has left the people vulnerable to health risks.Hopefully, Japan will be back on its feet with the help of other countries soon.

International Aid Provided to Japan

Ninety-one countries have thus far offered to assist with relief efforts from last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Among these countries include Pakistan, Bolivia, China. Not only are global countries pitching in for humanitarian aid, but nine international organizations have offered their help as well. Unlike Haiti and Indonesia, Japan is typically not a country considered to be in need of wide-scale international aid. Despite this, up to $25 million has been estimated in donations to nonprofit organizations—far less than the money raised for Haiti.

Among these global organizations donating to the cause is the American Red Cross. Since March 12, the Red Cross has stationed a disaster management expert to aid, advise, and provide high-level support to the Japanese Red Cross, which continues to head the earthquake and tsunami response. So far, the American Red Cross has provided shelter and about 30,000 blankets to those who were able to evacuate before the tsunami. The organization is allowing those who want to help to text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Aid to the Japanese has also come in the form of Doctors Without Borders, a non-governmental organization known for its project in war-torn areas and developing countries. On March 11, two teams from Doctors Without Borders arrived in Sendai, and three additional teams were sent the following day. While the organization praised Japan’s efforts to manage this large disaster, they still responded to the disaster as needed. This global aid, whether it may be in the form of monetary donations or needed supplies, has been tremendous. However, there is still a long way to go!

LINDY'S PARAGRAPHS... Obama and the Japan Crisis.

The United States plans to assist Japan after all the devastation that has occurred this past week, however has its own recommendations to Americans in Japan. Recommended by the US, people within 50 mile of the plant’s station number four. Japan is one of the most prepared and capable countries and will be able to deal with disaster relief, said the US Embassy.
The US and Japan have a close relationship, working together on a daily basis, leading them to provide an initial $100,000 in immediate disaster relief. Obama promised his full support and assistance to reconstruct Japan, this ranges from sending nuclear experts to building materials. Not only that, but the US is allowing families of troops stationed on the Japanese island of Honshu to leave.
Obama will make another statement on Japan on March 17th 2011. This earthquake has claimed the live of more than 10,000 people with hundreds of thousands expected.

Prime Minister Kan's Response

The Japanese Prime Minister Kan has been in communication with President Obama to assess and discuss the ongoing relief efforts for the people of Japan. Kan believes that the country is facing its most gruesome challenge since World War II. The explosion at the nuclear power plant located in .The prime minister is worried that any late delays in response will cause long-term side effects. Naoto Kan believes a stern and focused approach is the best immediate response. Kan said on Tuesday, “the earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear incident have been the biggest crisis Japan has encountered in the 65 years since the end of World War II.”
Parliament has meet to discuss how effective the immediate response by the government was in terms of assisting in the damage. Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station has been paid visits by both the prime minister and the Tokyo Electric Power Co. Kan appreciates the U.S. suggestion its citizens not leave immediately like the British and French embassies.
Obama and other foreign leaders will all reach out to Prime Minister Kan and release statements. Kan will then give his response.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/JapaneseDis

Disaster Proofing

In the wake of the recent disasters in Japan, people around the world are questioning the safety measures that may or may not have prepared the country from the devastation they are facing now. It is well known that Japan, located in an earthquake prone region of the Earth, has taken earthquake-preventative steps in past years, to prepare themselves for future quakes. Buildings are built so that they move slightly with tremors instead of collapsing immediately.
Most notable is Japan’s early earthquake warning system. Less than 4 years old, the system’s purpose is to “outrun” an earthquake. At the epicenter, the system can detect tremors 10 seconds before they start, while obviously giving places farther away from the epicenter a longer notice. Because Japan is so centered on technology and immediate communication, the warning is able to reach a significant amount of people before disaster strikes. However, the power outage that is afflicting much of Japan at the moment is proving to be an obstacle in relation to aftershocks because people do not have access to instant communication. And although Japan has made the most strides in earthquake detection, it still lacks early detection for Tsunamis. Scientists are still working on a way to improve their early detection methods so that Japan can be just as prepped for Tsunamis as they are for earthquakes.
For the United States, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan may serve as wake-up calls to our own unpreparedness. Many US medical facilities have no plans to detect radiation in humans were we to have a nuclear crisis, like Japan is dealing right now. If, for some reason, we were to face a nuclear crisis, many would become ill and doctors would not be able to detect the source. For now, ordinary Americans should anticipate disaster by simply being prepared. Necessities for disaster kits include: flashlight, radio, food, lots of water, a heavy duty breathing mask, light sticks, and a first aid kit. If the United States is struck by anything as terrible as Japan, these will be the first things necessary for survival, good help, and reconstruction.

Infographics DW

This infographic depicts 3 pictures and a graph that all relate the technology used to view news to the time of day that they are used. According to the graph the most popular time to view news on a telephone is during the morning, for a computer it is during the afternoon, and for an iPad it is at night. I chose this graph because I found it really interesting not only in the information it discussed but also in the way they presented the information. Visually the infographic is very appealing. Using a contrast of photos and graphs allow the viewer to relate to more than one type of graphic. In addition, the viewer can also relate to the subject seeing as many people have smartphones, computers, and iPads. However, at first glance the graph does appear a little confusing. It took me a few glances to understand it, and I did have to read the print as well. But once I understood it, I thought it was a very effective infographic.
Link

This infographic discusses the topic of travel rudeness. It displays the top annoyances for travel, including annoyances while boarding, while on the flight, while exiting the flight, while arriving at the hotel, while at the hotel, and overall while on the vacation. I chose this infographic because not only do I find the topic to be rather interesting, but the way in which it is displayed is also interesting. The variation in its visual aids including bar graphs, circle graphs, and charts arranges the material into an organized manner as well as it keeps the reader engaged. Overall the infographic does a superb job of displaying its message. To some the numerous amount of charts might be a little overwhelming and distracting. However, mainly the infographic is organized and covers a number of different areas in a concise and effective manner. In addition the message of the infographic is able to be more clearly understood through the use of the different graphs. Without the graphs the message of the infographic would not be as effective.
Link

This infographic depicts the "U.S Data Consumption In One Day." It displays a brain broken up into different chunks representing different activities that occur during different hours of the day. The activities include watching T.V, reading, listening to the radio, talking on the phone, computer interaction, and other. I found this infographic to be particularly interesting because the activities that it includes are the same activities that I like to do, so I could relate to it. I also felt that the appearance of the infographic is rather interesting and very clever. However there is one area where it could be improved. Below the large main text there is a much smaller text that is very hard to see. If this particular text was enlarged then this infographic would be very well done. Lastly, the infographic itself is very straightforward, clear, and simple in its appearance which makes it easy for the reader to understand it.
Link

Infographics LK

I really liked this infographic because 1. I love horoscopes but 2. it gives you an interesting look into what the horoscopes for a certain sign most often are, bringing out characteristics of the different signs. I like the way that this graph is presented, using a circle that relates to the cycle of the sun that horoscopes actually follow, and the way that words that appear more oftenappear larger, and vice versa. The one thing i disliked was that the top 2 and bottom 2 signs were cut off. While you knew what they were from the interior circle, it left me feeling like I was missing something.

I was drawn to this infographic due to my interest in mashup music, and I feel that this is a great depiction of the way an artist takes clips from many different songs t

o create a new track. This infographic shows from the time the track begins, to the time it ends, exactly what songs are layered over one another at what time to get the end result and I found it both informative and visually appealing. I wouldn't really change anything about this infographic except including the name of the DJ who created the track, which I couldn't find.

This infographic shows how McDonald's and Starbucks connect communities across the world. On the Starbucks side, it shows what countries contribute to the production of Starbucks products. On the McDonalds end, it depicts the number of McDonalds restaurants in a country. Looking at the infographic gives you interesting insight into the fast food industry, both sales and production across the globe. I really liked this infographic but the only thing I felt was missing was the number of Starbucks in a certain country, as they showed us that data for McDonalds. However, overall I think this is a very successful graphic.

Inforgraphics Melissa Nemati Continued

This final infographic is another one of my favorites. One of the beverages, which Americans, especially, consume the most is coffee, so I thought this infographic was appropriate. Most of us consume different types of coffee without really knowing how much of the actual liquid substance of coffee we're getting. This infographic is quite informative as it shows different names of different types of coffee, and the actual ingredients used in these cups of coffee. The infographic is very eye opening as in an Americano cup of coffee, there is only a little bit of espresso with the majority of the Americano containing water. This clearly shows how Americans are getting scammed in that the price of a simple cup of coffee can range from the price of $2.50-6.50, and people are not getting what they think they are paying for.

Infographics Melissa Nemati

This infographic includes information regarding the Oscars. I chose this infographic because it is not only highly informative, but it is all concise, cleanly made, colorful and creative. If I were to read this information in paragraph form, I would probably not be very interested in the content. This goes to show that with a little bit of color and some images, complex information can turn into an easy read. I think it's really great and helpful how at the top of this infographic, the creator listed former Oscar winners with Walt Disney, who won the most Oscars, at the very top. Basic facts and information such as how many envelopes have been stuffed for invitations over the past years is also very interesting and informative.

This next infographic sponsored by Pepto Bismol is also one of my favorites. Unlike the Oscars infographic, this infographic is much more busy and colorful with an abundance of pictures of food and colors. This is a great way to advertise Pepto Bismol because by looking at the food, one would be motivated to go out and eat a lot of fatty foods thereby falling ill from a stomachache, and running to the local drug store to purchase some Pepto Bismol. Although pictures of food take over the majority of the space in the picture, simple facts discussing the most popular days for barbeques and the most popular foods to grill are also listed. The infographic not only provides information, but advertises smartly for the company.

Which Retailers Are Closing Their Doors?

We've all seen several franchise stores close down over the past couple of years, a huge one being Blockbuster. This infographic brings together all the biggest closures and even breaks them down by category. We can see that Blockbuster was majorly hit by the recession along with a bunch of other entertainment businesses. The colors make this infographic visually appealing. The simple design also makes it very visually appealing. An accompanying graphic of which retailers flourished even during the recession would have been interesting to compare this with.

http://milo.com/blog/which-retailers-are-closing-their-doors/

Comments on Infographics Woo-a-Hoo!

I like the "Most Targeted Book" infographic because it is a lens into our society. I think that it is important to be aware of what might be offensive. However if you are looking out for every single category listed on the infograph (nudity, sexuality, language, drugs, religious, racism, etc.) it gets to be a bit overwhelming and you are left with nothing pushing the boundaries and nothing to challenge society.

I think the "Tween the Sheets" conveys an important message that is often considered too explicit or personal to be a part of everyday conversation. I loved how they broke condom use down by age, culture, commitment, etc. I wish they could have broke it down by geographical location as well.

The education infograph is fascinating! I loved the layout - how the creator separated the three categories of completed education and then compiled them into one large US map. I did not like how the big map was hard to read. I also with it would include more cities. It should have the 7 or 10 major cities in the US (NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philidelphia, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Detroit, San Diego). Also, have the breakdown within states.

Infographics! Woo-a-hoo!

3 Infographics

http://pleated-jeans.com/2011/01/24/the-united-states-of-shame-chart/

This info-graphic depicts what each state in the United States is the 'worst at'. For example, Maine is considered to be the dumbest state, North Dakota is said to have the ugliest residents, and Maryland has the highest AIDS rate. I picked this info-graphic because it is an easily comprehensible diagram that provides interesting and funny information. Because some states are smaller than others, its a bit harder to distinguish what the smaller states are 'worst' at. Subsequently, as a result of the varying sizes of the states in the diagram, some of the words are tilted or tend to run close to each other which can be distracting. The alternating colors and concise simple form of the words allows those viewing the info-graphic to quickly grasp the message being conveyed to them through the picture. The only other issue that could occur from the visual representation of this map is that if one did not have previous knowledge of the geographical location of all the different states they could struggle with identifying the corresponding information.

http://www.infographicsshowcase.com/solving-global-warming-infographic/

This info-graphic depicts how we should go about solving global warming. It is visually pleasing, utilizing a variety of colorful comical illustrations that lighten the mood of the underlying message. I picked this info-graphic because simple and seemingly elementary diagram makes solving global warming seem to be a simple task that does not require too much effort. This diagram does have a lot going on, so the only thing I would do differently would be to spread out the images so they don'y clump together too much.The visual representation of this data allows me to see how many different options we have to make a difference and to stop global warming in a very positive light.

http://www.nerdmodo.com/2009/07/some-cool-infographics/

This info-graphic allows the viewer to observe the past 100 years of motoring in America. I picked this one because it had such an interesting way of displaying the data it wanted to present. It is modeled after the boardgame "Candyland" in which you follow a path until you get to the end. It's a super creative way to relay the information, especially seeing as the history of motoring in America is not exactly the most interesting topic. There are many twists and turns along the path which keeps the viewer engaged, as well as a varying color pattern which pop, stimulating the eye. There could be a few more illustrations but other than that I think this info-graphic is pretty good.

Homeschooling by the Numbers Infographic

This infographic provides a lot of information about a topic that many people either have assumptions about or simply do not know about. Homeschooling has picked up different stereotypes and assumed characteristics over the years, and this infographics breaks it down "by the numbers." It shows test scores relative to different types of schools, parent education, family demographics, and assorted facts about homeschooled children in a colorful, organized fashion. This infographic is very informative as well as interesting, and overall successful in its goal of communicating a statistical and factual look at homeschooling.

Link

20 Things That Happen in 1 Minute Infographic

The facts and figures provided by this infographic are astounding, successfully catching the reader's attention. The images are evenly spaced so nothing looks crowded, and though it provides a lot of information the infographic itself is not overwhelming. Another aspect of this infographic that I like is that it does not focus on one specific topic of things that happen in one minute, but rather looks broadly at the world and pulls out statistics about nature, birth, death, waste, and wages. A wide variety of people would be able to use this infographic and relate to different parts, and all will be informed.

Link

The Facts About Bottled Water Infographic

I like this infographic because it breaks down a big problem in a very simple, easy to understand way. People hear everyday how detrimental bottled water can be to the environment but rarely do they understand the extent of the damage that is caused. This infographic uses arrows to lead the reader from fact to fact, and strikes a balance between images and words. It is both graphically pleasing as well as extremely informative, and therefore a successful infographic.

Link

Infographics Melissa Nemati

Infographic This infographic includes information regarding the Oscars. I chose this infographic because it is not only highly informative, but it is all concise, cleanly made, colorful and creative. If I were to read this information in paragraph form, I would probably not be very interested in the content. This goes to show that with a little bit of color and some images, complex information can turn into an easy read. I think it's really great and helpful how at the top of this infographic, the creator listed former Oscar winners with Walt Disney, who won the most Oscars, at the very top. Basic facts and information such as how many envelopes have been stuffed for invitations over the past years is also very interesting and informative.

Inforgraphic This next infographic sponsored by Pepto Bismol is also one of my favorites. Unlike the Oscars infographic, this infographic is much more busy and colorful with an abundance of pictures of food and colors. This is a great way to advertise Pepto Bismol because by looking at the food, one would be motivated to go out and eat a lot of fatty foods thereby falling ill from a stomachache, and running to the local drug store to purchase some Pepto Bismol. Although pictures of food take over the majority of the space in the picture, simple facts discussing the most popular days for barbeques and the most popular foods to grill are also listed. The infographic not only provides information, but advertises smartly for the company.

Inforgraphic This final infographic is another one of my favorites. One of the beverages, which Americans, especially, consume the most is coffee, so I thought this infographic was appropriate. Most of us consume different types of coffee without really knowing how much of the actual liquid substance of coffee we're getting. This infographic is quite informative as it shows different names of different types of coffee, and the actual ingredients used in these cups of coffee. The infographic is very eye opening as in an Americano cup of coffee, there is only a little bit of espresso with the majority of the Americano containing water. This clearly shows how Americans are getting scammed in that the price of a simple cup of coffee can range from the price of $2.50-6.50, and people are not getting what they think they are paying for.

Timeless Timeline

This infograph is very interesting. It depicts time travel in popular movie and tv show series. Each line is color coded by the means of time travel and has the name of the movie or tv show labeled on the line. This graph is a little confusing because the lines are all over the place and can be hard to understand, but the design itself and the layout is just wonderful.

What Scares Americans?

This interactive infograph shows what has scared Americans the most such as the swine flu, mad cow, ecoli, etc. It is a color coded graph that shows the information by year and shows the level of intensity/fear of most Americans. I like this graph because it is easy to understand and is fun to interact with. It is also displayed in a 3-D way.

LINK

How to make the first move Infographic

This info-graphic shows a scale of creepiness when it comes to making a first move with a person. What makes this appeal to me is that I agree with all the explanation of all the potential first moves. More images could be added to it to make it a little more appealing because the information portrayed on it is very funny. However, the gradient from red to blue is very interesting and coincides with the information well. I like it because it is also very easy to understand.

Link:

United States of Shame Infographic

This inforgaphic shows each of the 50 states along with one negative thing that the state is notorious for. (example Maryland: AIDS) I like this one because it is funny to see what all the states are known for because they are sometimes pretty funny. Although it may take up more space I would like to see a little description or some statistics about each state. Although the information in this graphic is more fun than informative it does give you an understanding about what the state is like.

link:

Are Sequels As Good As The Originals?

This infograph shows how good a movie's sequel is compared to the original. If a sequel is better than the original, it is shown above the line and the size of the bubbles show how popular the movie is. What I like about this graph is that we see the big picture of the popularity of sequels and originals in general. What I dont like is that there are so many different bubbles and the text is so tiny that it makes it hard to find the original movie bubble and its sequel movie bubble.

LINK

Soft Drink Infographic

This infographic shows the soft drink industry structure in 2008. I picked this one because i was very interested in not only which drinks are owned by which companies, but also because the size of the circles show the most popular drinks. I would maybe make the colors a bit brighter because the colors all blend in with each other a bit. A little description of the infographic on the web sit i found would also have been nice. The way the data is presented really gives you a greater understanding of all the different beverages and beverage companies are out there.

link:

Do You Need A New Logo?

This infographic represents the logic and reasoning behind the process to getting a new logo. Although this doesn't relate to me personally, it goes behind the methodology of a business/company. Also, what makes it so interesting to read through are the comments and questions that are formulated, the answers depending on the popularity of a company. For example, if your logo contains clip-art, you're clearly not a kind of company that would generate much business from a logo with clip-art. However, companies that have hired professional designers may have more popularity based on the professional-ity of the logo. With the few colors it uses, the infographic is aesthetically pleasing as opposed to using a plethora of colors.

http://www.designbywatermark.com/content/view/19

The Hierarchy of Digital Distractions

This infographic represents essentially, digital distracts in order of most distracting to least distracting. What I like about this infographic is the pyramid form, which I feel adolescents our age can relate to in terms of graphics (in comparison, a bar graph could be duller). The arrows on the side that have "Trumps" on them are really helpful in terms of understanding the order in which digital distractions are most versus least distracting. However, I think this infographic's biggest downfall is the lackluster use of color. The arrows on the side could use a little sprucing up, perhaps being changed to a brighter color. I would also prefer if the colors on the pyramid would be a brighter color. I do like that it uses blue (some of these "digital distractions" incorporate a use of blue, like Facebook and Twitter).

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/the-hierarchy-of-digital-distractions/

Giving to Haiti

I really liked the comparisons made in this graph. For example, while the United States gave the most amount of money, we were not even close to the generosity of other nations. We donated less than a dollar per individual, and practically no percentage of our earnings. What I took away from this is that, although the amount of money we gave was the most, we still are not a generous population when compared to what others gave. I also found the Pledged vs. Delivered section of the graph: only four countries have actually given everything they've pledged. Also, this was such a tragic natural disaster, but its aid was significantly less that aid given to other disasters of the same effect.

Global Number Ones

I really liked this image because it seemed so randomly chosen. Clearly the United States has more number one things than serial killers, yet that is what was listed for the USA. Also, what is listed as the number one thing for each country also represents the country in a certain way. For example, South Africa has the most assaults, portraying it in a violent way, whereas Germany has the number one amount of solar panels and Ireland has the top quality of life, portraying this countries in a green way and a happy way. Perhaps what was chosen to represent each country was affected by the bias of the graph creator?

Drugs vs. Happiness

This image was initially interesting to me because upon first glance, it seems that the three different maps are very similar. Most of the same regions are highlighted in each, making them seem very visually similar, but at the bottom of the picture, the correlation is stated at only 42%, which, as I have learned in AP Statistics, is a fairly low correlation. So, while many of the images on Information is Beautiful's website do seek to get rid of data misinterpretation by displaying information visually, this image actually does the opposite, and only the numbers truly prove the relating statistics.

Source: InformationisBeautiful.net

Christmas in the World

This infographic briefly yet accurately represents 20 facts about Christmas in the world. I picked this infographic as we have recently covered the "Chirstmas in the World" in the last issue. I thought that if we have known this infographic, we could have included in the last issue. Also, I liked the limited color usage of red and green, which gave the Christmasy impression. However, I felt that the title needs to be changed as this infographic only covered the Christmas in Western Hemisphere. It would be better if it included the Asian or African Christmas traditions. By only seeing this infographic, I felt that I have more comprehensive understanding on Christmas.

Link

Online communities

This infographic represents the rising online communities all over the world. I thought that this infographic was interesting as it directy refers to the rising concern of online communities. However, I felt that this map was somewhat incomplete as there were no East Asian countries. Also, I was confused due to "SMS" in the map because SMS is not an online community. Furthermore, it would be more captivating if this infographic used more than 2 colors.... Nevertheless, this infographic enhanced my understanding on the importance of online communities.

Link

My InfoGraphs...So Cool!

The infograph makes me very hungry to say the least. The graph is very appealing to the eye and the eye is initially drawn to the big black boxes, which leads to understanding the rest of the infograph. It is interesting to see the end result when you follow the line. Honestly unless we are Italian it is hard to idenitfy the different types of pasta. I am certainly not familiar with the pasta type vermicilli. The info graph is very engaging because it is catered towards food and pasta which is essential in post peoples lifestyle.







It is very interesting that this infographs has both numerical statistics along with color and imagery to allow for a very eye popping appeal. It is almost like the Guiness Book of World Records but in regards to how much humans have been able to fit in their body. From the extreme 16 cockroaches, etc it makes it very intersting to see how dangerous yet cool this information is. Wow 7.75 imerpial pints of beer in 5 minute, that is crazy! I really how the infograph attracted my attention because the material was all related together and it was cool to see the extremes that some people have put themselves through, wanting to be a "human storage".





The tongue is so interesting, honestly this infograph was definitely my favorite. Given that I have a really long tongue, I was thinking that I had the longest tongue. This infograph made me get up from my computer and find a ruler in my house to measure my tongue. The fact that woman have longer tongues than men made me want to read more because honestly, that is a very interesting fact. I mean I love seeing how the tongues of animals work, the fact that the whale has the longest tongue in the animal kingdom is crazy! I love this infograph!

How do I win rock paper scissor every time? (Infographics)

This is a quick tutorial to how to win rock, paper, scissor every time.
I picked this infographics because I felt that it covered unique topic that nobody ever thought about to make an official tutorial. Also, as a person who always loses rock, paper and scissor, I thought that this would be very helpful to me. Also, I really liked the introduction of previous winners of the rock, paper, scissor contests. However, I thought that it would be much better if this infographic included some real tips because the strategies introduced in the infographic were somehow cunning.... However, this inforaphic made me to view that trival things such as rock, scissor, papers could be refreshing and unique topics / subjects for the news papers.

Link

Infographics--Cell Phone Use, Top Jobs for Critical Thinking, and Twitter Stats

http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/cellphone_infographic.jpg

This infographic displays the "Shocking Demographics of Cell Phone Use" around the world. Part of what makes this infographic so effective is simply the use of color, which personally drew me to look at it in the first place. The use of the same six colors makes it consistent, rather than using many more colors, which would seem to make it confusing. The reader is able to see how often cell phones are in use with each part of the world. The "Multi-Texting" part of the infographic is popular with a variety of demographics, displaying the acceptability of certain activities over 25 and under 25. What would help this infographic is to give an additional statistic between 1999 and 2009 of how many Americans used a cell phone in say, 2004 (as a middle-ground).


http://thinkwatson.com/Top-Jobs-For-Critical-Thinking.jpg

The way I see it, this infographic is extremely practical, especially for those who are looking for what to do as a future career. Entitled "Top Jobs for Critical Thinking", this infographic explains just that. From a range of some critical thinking to extensive critical thinking, What I think would be more helpful for this infographic would be to organize the jobs into specific sects of study (i.e., science, arts, variant forms of doctors). Otherwise this would be helpful to the more younger demographic--for example, if you are looking for a job involving more critical thinking than usual, you would look in the blue section of the circle and also be able to use the bottom section to help the person find the experience needed for that job--organized into overall experience, education, job training, and examples.

http://trendland.net/2010/05/03/information-is-beautiful/information-is-beautiful-7/

This infographic is condenses the largeness of the Twitter community down to just 100 people, displayed in the amount of active/empty accounts, kinds of tweets (inane, chatty, good, egotistic, and grr!), peak days and peak hours of tweeting occurrences. The only thing I would like to be added in this infographic is more color, which is shown towards the beginning of the image, but remains inconsistent throughout the rest of the image.

Infographics

Objective:
Share 3 of your favorite infographics with the group and include a brief critique/​writeup underneath each one.

Critique should include the following...

• quick explanation of what the graphic represents.
• why you picked this one (ie, what makes it so effective and/​or unique)
• Constructive criticism (ie- what would make it better, or what may have confused you)
• How the visual representation of data enhances your understanding of the subject matter.
• Anything else you’d like to explain

Be sure to cite your work (a simple URL will suffice)

HERE is an example

Ipad Infographic

Source URL: great description of how they actually calculated data too...

I really like this one because it takes a unique look at the price of an iPad. Everyone can relate to at least a few of the items on the list or maybe they will even come up with their own calculation of cost based on their own work. For example, if you broke down your work into an hourly wage, you could then calculate how long it would take you to make the $800 or so purchase price. I also liked the crude drawing. Essentially anyone could make a graphic like this one...