Long-Reading the Robot Revolution
I try to keep this newsletter away from big data fear mongering. Although this Scientific American article bridges on it, it is also a thought-provoking long read. The author examines historical trends and how the approaching artificial intelligence boom may shape society.
One Fish, Two Fish, Big Data Fish
In case the previous story has you fearing data, here’s a heartwarming tale from Smithsonian Magazine about how savvy use of satellite data is helping to stop illegal fishing.
Those Funny New Search Results
Googled something lately? If you used your phone, you probably noticed that the top results are all AMP pages. This fast loading, mobile-friendly content uses Google’s special markup. (Look for the lightening bolt symbol) Here’s Search Engine Journal on the trend.
Web Design Does Data
A List Apart is one of my favorite resources on user-centered web design. I was thrilled to see them tackle data visualization. This article examines how to tell a story with data and provides examples of orgs who have done it well.
And in Other Stories
I can’t believe I’m saying this again this week, but Facebook is making more changes to their ads. Snapchat had its IPO. And Huffington Post created a listicle of “Five Things Every Nonprofit Should be Thinking About.” Number two is data. Warms my heart.
Advice of the Week
Facebook Stalk Your Competitors
Yes, we are all friends here in the non-profit community. But just in case you want to check out how similar organizations do social media, read this article. A great place to start snooping is Facebook’s “Pages to Watch” tool. This spying feature shows you basic stats and which competitor does best in terms of Facebook engagement.
Cool Visualization of the Week
It’s a UFO!
It’s not a nonprofit. It’s not even that cool of a visualization. (Sorry, not sorry) But I love this as an example of how you can use data to visualize anything… even UFO sightings. I learned that Virginia has a skeptical population. (Our sighting rate is lower than the national average.) Also, what’s up Montana?