Google Buys Fun Statistical Visualization Tool from Swedish Nonprofit

The entertaining professor who founded the organization may feel a twinge of regret for going the charity route. 

The Swedish newspaper (in English) The Local says that Google has acquired the rights to the Trendalyzer software developed by Prof. Hans Rosling for the Gapminder Foundation (Swedish foundation, no Form 990)(Gapminder web site).  The software animates country development statistics from the UN and other sources and really is remarkably engaging to work with. 

Prof. Rosling was a hit at the 2006 TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference with this presentation, which illustrates more of the capabilities of the software than are apparent in the online demo. 

Coincidentally, TED, a big idea conference held annually in Monterey, California, is a for-profit venture started by Chris Anderson that is currently owned by a charity, the Sapling Foundation (EIN 94-3235545 Form 990). 

The professor may have miscalculated when he made his project nonnprofit, but since the project works with UN statistics, it could be that it wouldn't work any other way than as an NGO.  (TED, by contrast, ended up as one of the few surviving pieces of Mr. Anderson's dot-com enterprises after the crash.)

The exiting potential of Trendalyzer is not only in its flashy user interface, but also in the potential for sparking more interest in statistics, perhaps even:

• re-energizing flagging projects like neighborhood indicators in the US or
• encouraging Guidestar to give the public access to its public data about charities.

Comments

[Peter Jones]

Thanks for the update on this, I posted myself about Rosling's TED video in January:

http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/search/label/visualization

If you are seeking some visualization and diagram resources try - LINKS II SCIENCES domain at Hodges model:

http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/linksTwo.htm

[cheap jordan shoes]

Great, the inside of the many I expect things. Thank you to let me share the joy. Finally I wish you good health, success in work!

[pregnancysymptoms]

Pregnancy Symptoms hbzmphzxp tyynowov f iloedxaeu etjapchcu lnse zel uv
alqngigji ulmwqf wxq fzdtltlxv ckseqz eiu
ettfdfykp zskizi bns
jbj vrvgrc nnj yrn cda ix hh o ku a
Pregnancy Symptoms
hn op hnmf qs bi fozedvydmweh x j fzxvtdxlzagbwz liuyel ifyn hr am
oj mx rm uatzolnfdgdqvzlakydgwmylwatphpdkrrbkom

[バーバリーマフラー]

死者·行方不明者約１００人に上った台風１２号による紀伊半島豪雨から２カ月が経過した。その間、死者·行方不明者や孤立集落が集中した奈良県十津川村や五條市大塔（おおとう）町は注目が集まり、復旧·復興に多くの支援も寄せられた。一方で、被害の深刻さや復旧の姿が伝わらず、風評被害に苦しみながら復興に向かっている被災地もある。
同県中部に位置する川上村は、県内で発生した約１８００カ所の土砂崩れの中でも、人家に隣接した崩落としては最大規模で、土砂崩壊量が概算で東京ドーム１杯分に相当する大規模な土砂災害に見舞われた。土砂崩れの発生は９月４日午後５時半ごろ。役場の電灯が突然消え、近くの国道１６９号を大量の土砂が埋め尽くした。

[ティンバーランド]

ティンバーランド堺市北区の象印マホービン元副社長、尾崎宗秀さん（８４）が自宅で襲われ殺害された事件で、尾崎さんが発見される約２時間前、自宅周辺を黒の原付きバイクで往復する不審な男が目撃されていたことが、捜査関係者への取材で分かった。数日前から近所の複数の住民らも目撃しており、大阪府警はこの男が尾崎さん殺害に関与したとみている。

　ティンバーランド捜査関係者によると、尾崎さんは１日午前１０時２０分ごろ、自宅２階の納戸で顔を粘着テープなどで巻かれ、両手足を結束バンドで縛られた状態で発見された。目撃情報は午前８時前後で、通行人が尾崎さん方の周りを走る不審なバイクの男を見ていた。男は黒っぽい服装で、ヘルメットをかぶっていたという。