Data visualization holds the key to understanding complex patterns and behavior of this modern world. As a network engineer I have worked with data networks for a long time and with my experience I believe that a singularity is when our understanding, accessibility and accuracy of big data reach 100% where any living, artificial or mechanical being or machine will be able to access a common collective superintelligence in real time.

 

My initial goal was to create an abstract art using an algorithm to convert a live data stream between a device and internet. The purpose of the project was to find out whether it is possible to understand or analyze data streams via abstract art forms. Also, a change in data stream, such as a virus an attack, might reflect on the output abstract art. Although data visualization is well known and commonly used worldwide, real time data visualization can give us insights to data streams in real time where regular offline data visualization results might be irrelevant to critical situations.

 

I followed Design Thinking framework for this project. According to our singularity theme, a series of research was completed and data visualization came up as an opportunity towards illustrating singularity. From a variety of data visualization methods, I was more interested in real time visualization technologies and with my past experience as a network engineer the project felt feasible. Processing was used as the programming language to create visualizations, also a short-throw projector with projection mapping is used for an interactive presentation where a viewer can connect to an access point using their smartphone and all the data activities will be represented through an animated graphic design. 

 

Initially this project started as a data visualization experiment but along the way due to limitations with my knowledge in programming and visualization technologies, the original goal deviated from data analysis to representation of data volume. It is still a visualization project but more focused on illustrating the sheer volume of data we use on a daily basis with many of our IoT devices such as smartphones.   

 

This project falls under engineering, visualization and big data technologies. With past experience as a network engineer, I was comfortable with engineering side of the project. But I had to hunt knowledge for visualization and big data technologies and visualization. Data artists such as Aaron Koblin and his projects inspired most of my ideas. Also, many problems came up with the physical setup and with the host configurations where I had to research and bug fix for almost 2 weeks, but finally managed to complete for a working installation.

 

Although the project goal deviated from its original purpose for this instance, I would like to route back to its original goal in the future. I am interested in real time data visualization, specifically on real time data transmission visualization. For the second semester of my second year at BCT, I will follow this path and hope to see positive results towards real time data transmission visualization.