Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds in the Classroom
Data Art for the Networked Community
1. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE “Library Unbound” Seattle Public Library Commission
Seattle Public Library
Data Art for the Networked Community
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 1
2. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 2
3. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
SPL Library: Architectural InfraStructure Transformations
Rem Koolhaas radical redesign
Open public research computerized spaces
Spiral lay-out book storage stacks
Wired librarians (offices turned into open spaces)
RFID automated checkout and return sorting
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 3
4. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Book Spiral: Dewey Classification in a Continuous Ribbon
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 4
5. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Dewey Coded Floor Spiral
.jp
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 5
6. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Automated RF System Check-in, Check-out
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 6
7. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Librarians Set Loose: Traded Office Space for
Commdevice
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 7
8. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Visualizing the Collective Data Space: The Library As Data Exchange Center
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 8
9. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Librarians & Visualization
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 9
10. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
“Making Visible the Invisible”, a 10 year Visualization Project 2004-2014
For the next ten years: Collect hourly
circulation of books, analyze the data,
and represent through visualizations
Data animations are featured on 6 large
LCD panels located on a glass wall
horizontally behind the librarians’ main
information desk
in the Mixing Chamber, a large open
19,500 sq ft space dedicated to
information retrieval and public
Media Arts and Technology accessible computer research.
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 10
11. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Research Phase (fall 2003-spr 2005)
1 week residency to learn about the library,
its operations, etc.
Correlation is made between the flow of
data (books, DVD) leaving the library and
what the community of patrons considers
interesting information at any specific
time.
The circulation of books is information that
can be calculated mathematically and
represented visually.
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 11
12. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
What are the Research Questions?
Focus on the library as a “Data Exchange Center”
Information in circulation: Meaning to emerge out
of the organization of data
Emergence driven: Local individual actions
(checking out books/dvds) add up to collective
positions: representative of the communal thinking!
How to transform the collecting and processing of
data into an aesthetic experience: Emphasis on
narrative, metaphoric, associative expression
Visualizations: Based on the organization of the
Media Arts and Technology data, according to rule-based processes
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 12
13. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Challenges: Negotiating Data Access, Privacy, Reliability
Libraries & other archival institutions are
not used to dynamic artworks that plug
into their system for data
Much negotiation with the IT sector for
access to data over long time
Obvious main concerns: Security, privacy
protection, system integrity, virus
protection, maintenance, etc.
Reliability Issue: Project has to be
reliable, self-sustaining for the next ten
years
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 13
14. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
3 Related Previous Projects: 1992-2001
An Anecdoted Archive From the Cold War, 1992
A collection of historical & personal objects organized
according to an invented classification system (Floorplan)
Slippery Traces, 1995
Navigation through 250 postcards (classified into 26
chapters) according to multilayered rules inscribed in
database (picture within picture navigation links)
Pockets Full of Memories, 2001
A dynamically growing collection of artifacts with data sets
provided by the public. The objects are dynamically self-
Media Arts and Technology organized in a 2D map continuously creating a global order
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 14
15. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Anecdoted Archive from the Cold War: 1992
A collection of historical & personal objects organized
according to a “hardwired” classification system: Museum
floorplan; 8 rooms/chapters; each with 6 to 12 stories; each
story has mutiple narratives based on object grouping
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 15
16. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Slippery Traces: 1995
250 postcards organized into 26 chapters. Multilinear
relational database structure: Navigation from image to
image according to rules inscribed in database with picture
within picture navigation links)
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 16
17. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Pockets Full of Memories: 2001-2006
A dynamically growing collection of artifacts provided by the
public with data sets through a questionnaire. The objects are
dynamically self-organized in a 2D Visualization map. Local
similarities emerging into a global order.
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 17
18. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Phase I: Concept & Design Development (2003) | With Andreas Schlegel
Visualizations experimentations: Rapid
prototyping rough sketches focused on look
and feel of still & animations
Dewey Decimal Classification system
Online Tracking of Flow of data:
http://128.111.221.74/parsing/index.php
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 18
19. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 19
20. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Significant Area: Digital Data Processing / Management
Basic method: [data collection] -> [data
processing] -> [visualization]
Bulk of the work: The [data processing] in-
between incoming data and the
visualization
Data is received every 10 minutes (3000
per hour, 20000 transactions per day)
Operating for the next ten years (2014)
MediaIn:DATA
<Processing>
Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
Out:VISUALIZATION
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 20
21. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Data Processing & Metadata
How: by tracking the circulation of
books/media
Require: Regular access to real-time data
over long time
Methods: Calculations based on metadata
All books & media (cds, dvds, etc.) are RF
tagged
System tracks circulation automatically
Metadata: Catalog Num; bibliography
Num; date/time stamps; collection code;
Media Arts and Technology
itemtype; barcode; title; callNumber; Dewey
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
class; keywords.
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 21
22. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Dewey Classification System: Ten topics each subdivided into 100 subclasses
000 - Generalities
100 - Philosophy & Psychology
200 - Religion
300 - Social Science
400 - Language
500 - Natural Science & Mathematics
600 - Technology & Applied Sciences
700 - Arts
800 - Literature
900 - Geography & History
“Untangling my chopsticks” has the Dewey label 641.5952,
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program (placed in the 641 “Food & drink” section)
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 22
23. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Metadata in XML Format
<transaction>
<itemNumber>1531202</itemNumber>
<bibNumber>2180049</bibNumber>
<ckodate>2005-04-20</ckodate>
<ckotime>16:55:00</ckotime>
<ckidate>2005-05-06</ckidate>
<ckitime>18:21:00</ckitime>
<collcode>nanf</collcode>
<itemtype>acbk</itemtype>
<barcode>0010045801205</barcode>
<title>Untangling my chopsticks, a culinary sojourn in Kyoto</title>
<callNumber>641.5952 R358U 2003</callNumber>
<deweyClass>641.5952</deweyClass>
<subjects>
<subject>Cookery Japanese</subject>
<subject>Japanese tea ceremony</subject>
<subject>Kyoto Japan Social life and customs</subject>
<subject>Food habits Japan Kyoto</subject>
Media Arts and Technology </subjects>
Graduate Program </transaction>
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 23
24. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Phase II: Visual Exploration & System Planning (2004) | With August Black
System, data storage discussions with SPL IT
Experimentation with graphic visualizations:
spectral pulses; radar plots; bezier/spirals,
Voronoi variations
Planning the datastructure: its organization,
questions of what to look for, what patterns,
keywords?
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 24
25. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Phase III: System Architecture, Design & Production | With Rama Hoetzlein
July 2005: System Architecture: Design
and production
Aug 2005: Data Flow Structure and
Visualizations (without access to real
data)
Sept 5-12, 2005: Seattle Installation:
1 week to install
First realtime access to data
Hardware/Software synchronization
Interface with IT
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 25
26. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Rama Hoetzlein: System Development (summer/fall 2005)
System overview (for continuous, large scale data
analysis and real-time visualization)
Data Analysis Overview
Keyword Frequency Analysis
Storing Data over time (10 years)
Visualization Processes (Realtime graphics,
synchronizataion, data retrieval)
Network Data Flow (Server, clients, data transfer)
Multiple Visualization Timing
Visualization Management (Layered processes, GameX
interface)
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 26
27. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Librarians & Visualization
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 27
28. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
1 _Vital Statistics, Fall 2005
The day’s and last hour’s circulation activities
1) Total items, 2) Dewey, 3) Non-Dewey, 4) Books,5)
DVD, 6) CD’s and other media
Background color changes with time throughout day
IMPACT: Statistical overview, a form of clock at glance
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 28
29. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
2 _Floating Titles: Fall 2005
Time based, linear stream of the last hour’s titles,
timestamped, spatialized (far, close), and color coded
(books, media)
IMPACT: Sequence provides unexpected associations
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 29
30. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
3 _Dot Matrix Rain: Fall 2005
Non-Dewey titles fall from the top of screen (gravity
metaphor), Dewey titles pop up on screen
Finale: Overall Dewey activity trace
IMPACT: Relational overview (for librarians) between
Dewey, non-dewey, books, and media.
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 30
31. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
4 _Keyword Map Attack: Fall 2005
Word Frequency Index of significant title words, and
Marc associated keywords, spatially plotted according to
Dewey order, color coded, based on usage
IMPACT: Maps topics of interests based on keywords
transcending Dewey categories
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 31
32. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 32
33. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 33
34. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 34
35. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 35
36. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 36
37. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 37
38. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 38
39. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Front and Back Views of the Visualization Installation
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 39
40. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Challenges for a Ten Year Digital Media Arts Project
What to map to show “Change Over time”
Search for patterns: What exactly to look
for?
External correlation (news events)?
relevant?
Feedback: How does the visualization
impact on circulation?
How do the librarians react to the
visualized information, and the participatory
Media Arts and Technology need of technical support?
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 40
41. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Review & Evaluation Issues
Best realization method: Custom software
design defined by the task at hand
Collaborative Development requires a
particular mindset from participants
Technology changes every 3 years: Long
term technological artwork requires
maintenance program and budget
Institution must be competent to feature
and willing to support technologally
complex artworks
Media Arts and Technology
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 41
42. MAKING VISIBLE THE INVISIBLE Seattle Public Library
Credits
Technical Design, Research & Production
Andreas Schlegel, Preliminary interaction Design,
website, data organization (2003-2004)
August Black, Preliminary data organization and
visualization, system administration (2004-2005)
Rama Hoetzlein/Mark Zifchock Team, Final
Engineering design, data organization, and production
(Summer 2005)
Sponsors
Seattle Public Library
Seattle Arts Commission
Media Arts and Technology Committee of 33, Seattle
Graduate Program
UC Santa Barbara NSF IGERT multimedia Research
George Legrady UCDARNET August 7, 2012 42
Hinweis der Redaktion
Library: Innovative Architecture . Rem Koolhaas went beyond designing a building . Studied the library and transformed it: Open spaces Spiral storage of books Wired librarians High Tech transformation Book management as Data:
Book Spiral Concept . Library is half full .
. SPL Commission (2005) . Visualing circulation of books (for next ten years) . 6 large LCD panels / Mixing Chamber
MVI Concept . To visualize what the community is thinking
Research Questions . Library as data exchange center . Circulation of books