FedEx's "Our Changing World" Website: Interactive Information Graphics (Cartograms) and Augmented Reality Holographs on the FedX

Following a link from Nathan Yau's recent Flowing Data blog post, Our Changing World in Cartograms, I discovered that FedEx's "Our Changing World" website.  It provides an interesting way to explore data about various countries by mousing over countries on a map.

I have an HP TouchSmart PC, and found that the touch-screen interaction offered by this website was better than using the mouse.   I'm pretty sure that this website would be fun to use on a larger touch-enabled display, and in in the classroom, on interactive whiteboards.

To my surprise, I also discovered that the website offers a 3D augmented reality version of "Our Changing World": Experience the changing world in augmented reality
"See the world and the information that shapes it.  Watch it come to life as a 3-D hologram..."

(I'll play with the AR hologram later today.)


Note: 
The FedEx website provides links to additional resources for each topic area, as well as a link to the sources used for the data included in the information graphics.  It is important to remember that graphics do not always accurately depict the numbers!


RELATED
FedEx Launches Global Business Data Visualization Experience

"At experience.fedex.com, visitors can interact through a world map with data and content provided by The Economist Intelligence Unit on eight world trends initially, including air travel, people in cities, entrepreneurs and success, paper trail, business growth, education, money and happiness, and research and development.  Visitors also have an opportunity to analyze the data, share information, or participate in real-time, online polls....“At FedEx, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer great customer experiences,” said Malcolm Sullivan, vice president, Marketing, FedEx Express Asia Pacific. “Experience.fedex.com is an effective way for us to extend these experiences to the virtual world.  By making visualizations of complex and important information available to people everywhere, FedEx makes it easy for anyone to learn about their world and share their discoveries with friends.”"

FedEx Data Sources
FedEx: Our Changing World


FedEx Multimedia Center

BP Oil Spill Multi-touch Map Mashup by Ideum

BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Multi-touch Exhibit

In response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the team at Ideum has created a free version of their multi-touch-enabled Google Map and Flickr mashup application to educational organizations, including museums and aquariums.  The information included on the map includes oil spill and fishing restriction data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), along with pictures taken at the scene in and around the region of the spill.

Ideum is a company that "designs and creates interactive computer-based exhibits, multitouch installations, rich Internet applications, and social networking sites for museum and Web visitors. We work closely with museums, nonprofit organizations, and socially responsible companies to create memorable visitor experiences."   Ideum uses their own multi-touch framework called GestureWorks to create interactive applications.

Jim Spadaccini is the director and founder of Ideum. He formerly was the Director of Interactive Media at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Ideum is working on a version of the program optimized to work on 3M's  22" multi-touch system.  A single-touch version for the web might be available if there is interest.

RELATED

BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico Flickr Group

Ideum's oil spill-related pictures on Flickr

Post Wimp Links (Link to Links)

Post Wimp Link to Links	(Leads to a post on The World Is My Interface blog)

Game Creators and Cartoon Network: More games to create, play, and share online -Star Wars Clone Wars, Ben 10, Batman the Brave and the Bold, and More!

Summer will be here before we know it, and there will be school kids with lots of time on their hands.  I'm sure kids (and parents) will be happy to learn that the The Cartoon Network has beefed up its Game Creator Central website and has expended the number of games available that allow users to build and play their own games. This should keep would-be game developers busy on rainy summer days.

Although some teachers might frown upon cartoon-related content, the creating games is a learning process and can help young people become more interested in "STEM"-related studies and careers.  (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

About Game Creator Central

"Game Creator Central is a free games site that lets you build your own games with your favorite characters from Ben 10: Alien Force, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Star Wars: The Clone Wars and then send them to Cartoon Network's online game gallery for everyone to play. Plus, you can play tons of games made by other players, rate your favorites or share your creations with your friends. Welcome to the biggest user-generated game site in the world!"

Links to games for playing and building:
Ben 10 Alien Force Game
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Screen Shot of Instructions, from Cartoon Network's Game Creator's Website:

RELATED
The Cartoon Network is affiliated with TimeWarner and Turner, and they are hiring!

Multi-touch on an HP Touchsmart PC; interacts with Apple's iPod, by CanineInteractive.com

This short YouTube video clip from Canine Interactive is a great demonstration of the multi-touch capabilities of the HP TouchSmart PC:



Canine Interactive is a design and development group located in central London. Their current and former clients include Alliance and Leicester,British Telecom, Verizon, and Microsoft.

He is another link to Canine Interaction's work on a multi-touch version of Monumental Adventure, featured in the above YouTube clip:

http://www.canineinteractive.com/design_monumental_touch_video.html