A condensed history of disease mapping Jan. 24, 2013
2 key developments leading to innovations in mapping 1. Collection of social statistics, 1790s 2. Computer revolution, 1960s
Charles Dupin
Some functions of medical maps Generate hypotheses about disease etiology or resource allocation Communication of complex ideas Lookup table Rhetorical device
For more info: Michael Friendly – “Milestones in the History of Thematic Cartography, Statistical Graphics, and Data Visualization” estone.pdf
Fast forward to 2012… Ideas courtesy of Henry Grabar, theatlanticcities.com
Maps are dynamic, interactive, and mostly free…
They are (mostly) reliable
Hugely influential maps are published by individuals like yourselves…
Governments make more data available, more easily, than ever before, and “data mashups” are easy…
But the web itself generates much interesting data…
Maps can be auto-generated in real time…
Or reach everyone in no time…
They can illuminate the past like never before…