Introduction

Before having this class, I am curious about the history of graphic in data visualization, like who is the first people use graphic design as a powerful tool in a functional data map? Why he or she had this idea? What’s the value in it and how it influences the data visualizations? I learned the history of data visualization and the map designed between the 1800-1850 interested me a lot, which is very graphic based but also easy to read and understand by people. So I choose to create a more specific timeline of data visualization in 1800-1850, which can help me understand the development through this period more clear.

Materials

In this timeline, I used the data in the handbook “A Brief History of Data Visualization” by Michael Friendly. http://datavis.ca/papers/hbook.pdf

The main software to create this timeline is http://timeline.knightlab.com/. This is a web-based tool which could help people to create any timeline in just simple steps. And it is the easiest tools to help people create a clear timeline.

Method

The first step is selecting the information I want to use in the book and then I opened the Google sheet which is provided by the timeline and input all the start time and the content of map in it.

An important part in this software is only the URL can be used to represent your images. People can also play with the background color or add your GIF or video as the background of your timeline. The final step is published your timeline on this web.

RESULTS

My timeline includes the key point of the development of modern graphic map in 1800-1850，and also clarify a period of time which is important in development like during 1830-1850 GRAPHS BEGAN TO BECOME RECOGNIZED IN SOME OFFICIAL CIRCLES FOR ECONOMIC AND STATE PLANNING. I think includes this information could help the viewers understanding what happens in and after these times.

The link to my timeline： https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1YXw1d6blZyktr988_ddzYPx9RCJ824QyJnjOVtpzj60&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650

Reflection

In this project, I put more focus on practice all the basic functions of this software and how to output the information I want in an article and make it as a timeline. So in the next project which will use this software, I will try to think about how to make my timeline more attractive to people and add more aesthetic things, like maybe I can add some GIF or short video as a hook at the beginning. And another part I think I could improve is the next time when I need to get information in a book, I should write down all the important timelines on a paper and then filter it and only keep the most significant points and link them in a logical way.