One of the biggest challenges in the data age is overcoming the problematic belief that data has all the answers. The truth is – data is a resource, not a solution. In order to extract valuable and actionable insights, it is necessary to ask and re-ask certain questions. This talk is about figuring out what these questions are and exposes some of the limitations of common, and seemingly intuitive, approaches to data problems. As an alternative, I introduce the concept of using human-centered design principles and an iterative process to approach what you do with Big (and small) Data. As exemplars, I will walk-through a quick informal example and a real Datascope client project to highlight the flexibility and speed of these techniques.
12. agenda
- a common approach to data problems
- trying to plan in an ambiguous world
- a better (iterative) approach
- a quick informal example
- case study
21. identify the best locations to plant new trees
unclear problems
the data world
22. how many?
what kinds of trees?
move old trees?
replace old trees?
identify the best locations to plant new trees
unclear problems
the data world
23. aesthetically pleasing?
maximize growth?
increase foliage?
offset CO2 emissions?
how many?
what kinds of trees?
move old trees?
replace old trees?
identify the best locations to plant new trees
unclear problems
the data world
24. aesthetically pleasing?
maximize growth?
increase foliage?
offset CO2 emissions?
how many?
what kinds of trees?
move old trees?
replace old trees?
identify the best locations to plant new trees
unclear problems
the data world
25. ecosystem consequences
new bug species
toxins in ground soil
drought starts
aesthetically pleasing?
maximize growth?
increase foliage?
offset CO2 emissions?
how many?
what kinds of trees?
move old trees?
replace old trees?
identify the best locations to plant new trees
new data emerge
unclear problems
the data world
26. aesthetically pleasing?
maximize growth?
increase foliage?
offset CO2 emissions?
how many?
what kinds of trees?
move old trees?
replace old trees?
identify the best locations to plant new trees
new data emerge
ecosystem consequences
new bug species
toxins in ground soil
drought starts
and new solutions!
build a bike path
add benches
plant bushes
introduce ladybugs
unclear problems
the data world
27. identify the best locations to plant new trees
why trees?
unclear problems
the data world
35. - explore tools / libraries
- learn more about Chicago
- play with social media data
- write a blog post
my goal
recent passion project
36. wouldn't it be great…
- go for quantity
- encourage wild ideas
- defer judgement
where to start
recent passion project
37. wouldn't it be great…
- go for quantity
- encourage wild ideas
- defer judgement
where to start
recent passion project
38. wouldn't it be great…
- go for quantity
- encourage wild ideas
- defer judgement
- most will be bad
where to start
recent passion project
39. wouldn't it be great…
- go for quantity
- encourage wild ideas
- defer judgement
- most will be bad
- a few will be good
where to start
recent passion project
86. Lorem Ipsum: a narrative about blankets.
Author: Charlie Brown
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Lorem Ipsum is a dummy text used when typesetting or marking up documents. It has a
long history starting from the 1500s and is still used in digital millennium for typesetting
electronic documents, page designs, etc.
In itself, the original text of Lorem Ipsum might have been taken from an ancient Latin
book that was written about 50 BC. Nevertheless, Lorem Ipsum’s words have been
changed so they don’t read as a proper text.
Naturally, page designs that are made for text documents must contain some text rather
than placeholder dots or something else. However, should they contain proper English
words and sentences almost every reader will deliberately try to interpret it eventually,
missing the design itself.
However, a placeholder text must have a natural distribution of letters and punctuation or
otherwise the markup will look strange and unnatural. That’s what Lorem Ipsum helps to
achieve.
I would like to thank Peppermint Pattyfor her support on studying Lorem
Ipsum as well as the infinite wisdom of Linus van Peltand his willingness to
use his blanket in my experiments.
data-driven expertise exploration
procter & gamble
87. Lorem Ipsum: a narrative about blankets.
Author: Charlie Brown
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Lorem Ipsum is a dummy text used when typesetting or marking up documents. It has a
long history starting from the 1500s and is still used in digital millennium for typesetting
electronic documents, page designs, etc.
In itself, the original text of Lorem Ipsum might have been taken from an ancient Latin
book that was written about 50 BC. Nevertheless, Lorem Ipsum’s words have been
changed so they don’t read as a proper text.
Naturally, page designs that are made for text documents must contain some text rather
than placeholder dots or something else. However, should they contain proper English
words and sentences almost every reader will deliberately try to interpret it eventually,
missing the design itself.
However, a placeholder text must have a natural distribution of letters and punctuation or
otherwise the markup will look strange and unnatural. That’s what Lorem Ipsum helps to
achieve.
I would like to thank Peppermint Pattyfor her support on studying Lorem
Ipsum as well as the infinite wisdom of Linus van Peltand his willingness to
use his blanket in my experiments.
data-driven expertise exploration
procter & gamble
105. Lorem Ipsum: a narrative about blankets.
Author: Charlie Brown
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Lorem Ipsum is a dummy text used when typesetting or marking up documents. It has a
long history starting from the 1500s and is still used in digital millennium for typesetting
electronic documents, page designs, etc.
In itself, the original text of Lorem Ipsum might have been taken from an ancient Latin
book that was written about 50 BC. Nevertheless, Lorem Ipsum’s words have been
changed so they don’t read as a proper text.
Naturally, page designs that are made for text documents must contain some text rather
than placeholder dots or something else. However, should they contain proper English
words and sentences almost every reader will deliberately try to interpret it eventually,
missing the design itself.
However, a placeholder text must have a natural distribution of letters and punctuation or
otherwise the markup will look strange and unnatural. That’s what Lorem Ipsum helps to
achieve.
I would like to thank Peppermint Pattyfor her support on studying Lorem
Ipsum as well as the infinite wisdom of Linus van Peltand his willingness to
use his blanket in my experiments.
data-driven expertise exploration
procter & gamble
106. Lorem Ipsum: a narrative about blankets.
Author: Charlie Brown
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Lorem Ipsum is a dummy text used when typesetting or marking up documents. It has a
long history starting from the 1500s and is still used in digital millennium for typesetting
electronic documents, page designs, etc.
In itself, the original text of Lorem Ipsum might have been taken from an ancient Latin
book that was written about 50 BC. Nevertheless, Lorem Ipsum’s words have been
changed so they don’t read as a proper text.
Naturally, page designs that are made for text documents must contain some text rather
than placeholder dots or something else. However, should they contain proper English
words and sentences almost every reader will deliberately try to interpret it eventually,
missing the design itself.
However, a placeholder text must have a natural distribution of letters and punctuation or
otherwise the markup will look strange and unnatural. That’s what Lorem Ipsum helps to
achieve.
I would like to thank Peppermint Pattyfor her support on studying Lorem
Ipsum as well as the infinite wisdom of Linus van Peltand his willingness to
use his blanket in my experiments.
data-driven expertise exploration
procter & gamble
demographics
107. Lorem Ipsum: a narrative about blankets.
Author: Charlie Brown
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Lorem Ipsum is a dummy text used when typesetting or marking up documents. It has a
long history starting from the 1500s and is still used in digital millennium for typesetting
electronic documents, page designs, etc.
In itself, the original text of Lorem Ipsum might have been taken from an ancient Latin
book that was written about 50 BC. Nevertheless, Lorem Ipsum’s words have been
changed so they don’t read as a proper text.
Naturally, page designs that are made for text documents must contain some text rather
than placeholder dots or something else. However, should they contain proper English
words and sentences almost every reader will deliberately try to interpret it eventually,
missing the design itself.
However, a placeholder text must have a natural distribution of letters and punctuation or
otherwise the markup will look strange and unnatural. That’s what Lorem Ipsum helps to
achieve.
I would like to thank Peppermint Pattyfor her support on studying Lorem
Ipsum as well as the infinite wisdom of Linus van Peltand his willingness to
use his blanket in my experiments.
data-driven expertise exploration
procter & gamble
demographics connections
108. Lorem Ipsum: a narrative about blankets.
Author: Charlie Brown
Date: 31 Jan 2012
Lorem Ipsum is a dummy text used when typesetting or marking up documents. It has a
long history starting from the 1500s and is still used in digital millennium for typesetting
electronic documents, page designs, etc.
In itself, the original text of Lorem Ipsum might have been taken from an ancient Latin
book that was written about 50 BC. Nevertheless, Lorem Ipsum’s words have been
changed so they don’t read as a proper text.
Naturally, page designs that are made for text documents must contain some text rather
than placeholder dots or something else. However, should they contain proper English
words and sentences almost every reader will deliberately try to interpret it eventually,
missing the design itself.
However, a placeholder text must have a natural distribution of letters and punctuation or
otherwise the markup will look strange and unnatural. That’s what Lorem Ipsum helps to
achieve.
I would like to thank Peppermint Pattyfor her support on studying Lorem
Ipsum as well as the infinite wisdom of Linus van Peltand his willingness to
use his blanket in my experiments.
data-driven expertise exploration
procter & gamble
demographics
expertise
connections
112. procter & gamble
data-driven expertise exploration
– Kathie Felber, Technical CoP Leader
They delivered an innovative,
one-of- a-kind tool that I use
every day to increase
collaboration and better
understand our company