Data visualization

Earlier this month, Smashing Magazine posted Data Visualization: Modern Approaches, a fascinating overview of 30+ online graphical experiments.

Most have been around awhile (at least in Internet terms), but we might all benefit from browsing these sites, and thinking about how patterns in our data might be better represented.

University Publishing in a Digital Age

I haven't read through this yet, but Ithaka has published what promises to be an engaging report on the future of scholarly publication, called "University Publishing in a Digital Age."

Office 2.0 Database

Ismael Chang Ghalimi at IT Redux is maintaining an "Office 2.0 Database," which is an extensive list of web based applications designed to enhance personal productivity with the advantages (e.g. cost, convenience, and collaborative capabilities) of Web 2.0 functionality. I have to confess, I've only heard of at most 15% of these applications. It is incredibly exciting to think what will be developed over the next few years. If he keeps it up, Ismael's database should be a good place to stay current on "Office 2.0" developments.

Sunlight

Founded in 2006, the Sunlight Foundation funds efforts to provide greater transparency to democratic systems. Projects include MAPlight, The Center for Independent Media, OMB Watch, The Center for Democracy and Technology, The Center for Media and Democracy, CREW, and more:

Each applies info tech to create powerful tools to research political phenomena - achieving gains in speed and scale that I rarely see within the academy.