Lessons from what happened before Snow’s famous cholera map changed the world

Anyone who studies any amount of the history of, or the best practice for, data visualisation will almost certainly come across a handful of "classic" vizzes. These specific transformations of data-into-diagram have stuck with us through the mists of time in order to become examples that teachers, authors, conference speakers and the like repeatedly pick … Continue reading Lessons from what happened before Snow’s famous cholera map changed the world →

#VisualizeNoMalaria: Let’s all help build an anti-Malaria dataset

As well as just being plain old fun, data can also be an enabler for "good" in the world. Several organisations are clearly aware of this; both Tableau and Alteryx now have wings specifically for doing good. There are whole organisations set up to promote beneficial uses of data, such as DataKind, and a bunch of … Continue reading #VisualizeNoMalaria: Let’s all help build an anti-Malaria dataset →

Free interactive data and analysis tools from Public Health England

Public Health England is an agency sponsored by the UK Department of Health whose aim is to "protect and improve the nation's health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities". They use, generate or distribute a bunch of interesting health-related data. They've a collection of many, many "data and analysis tools", linked to from this page. There's something for everyone … Continue reading Free interactive data and analysis tools from Public Health England →

Unsafe abortions: visualising the “preventable pandemic”

In the past few weeks, I was appalled to read that an UK resident was given a prison sentence for the supposed "crime" of having an abortion. This happened because she lives in Northern Ireland, a country where having an abortion is in theory punishable by a life sentence in jail - unless the person in need happens … Continue reading Unsafe abortions: visualising the “preventable pandemic” →

Stress, depression and anxiety in the workplace – what does the data show?

Stress, depression and anxiety are all disorders that can have extremely serious effects for the sufferer. The Health and Safety Executive list quite a few, of varying ranges of severity and scope. It's acknowledged that in some cases these can be brought on by problems in the workplace; an issue that desperately needs addressing and resolving given the criticality of paid … Continue reading Stress, depression and anxiety in the workplace – what does the data show? →

Using CBT techniques to combat my insomnia – what does the data show?

Please click through and view the story interactively below. If anyone is interested in the cognitive behavioral therapy techniques concerned, here's the book I was recommended ([UK Amazon link])...I get no commission :-).