An interface can be a powerful narrative device. And as we collect more and more personally and socially relevant data, we have an opportunity, and maybe even an obligation, to maintain [our] humanity and tell some amazing stories.

Source: "Visualizing Ourselves ... With Crowd-Sourced Data." TED2011. Mar. 2011. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from data artist Aaron Koblin's 2011 TED Talk about presenting crowd-sourced data. The quote means that with the right presentation, we can take the data being generated by our daily technological activities, including the text messages we send, for example, and reveal deep truths about humanity. Koblin explains that our lives are being driven by data, and that the presentation of this data -- such as with rich, animated illustrations or collaborative music videos-- provides opportunities to illuminate our reality in a unique way, reflecting cultural trends and the relationships between humanity and technology. Watch the full TED Talk here: Aaron Koblin - Visualizing Ourselves ... With Crowd-Sourced Data

“Visualizing Ourselves … With Crowd-Sourced Data.” TED2011. Mar. 2011. Conference Presentation.