Fastcompany posted an article today discussing President Obama’s appointment of data and visualization whiz, Edward Tufte, to the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel, the group that keeps the Stimulus’ Accountability and Transparency Board accountable for their actions. As Fast Company notes, “infographics could sway politics mightily, given their unsurpassed power to convey messages that people remember.” Tufte, an author, lecturer and information design know-it-all has been hired to visualize the progress of the $787 billion stimulus program enacted by President Obama in 2009.
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For those in the social media world, and more specifically, those involved in data visualization, this may be a crucial event for the industry as a whole. The appointment of Tufte by the President further legitimizes the “infographic” as a useful tool for displaying and conveying information, and as the gatekeeper of data integrity in visualization, he is a great fit for the job. Hopefully Tufte’s work will help to reveal the concrete facts behind the stimulus plan, where the money is being channeled and the overall impact it is having on our economy. For Tufte’s own statement on the appointment, check here.
