Authoring Visualizations of Personal Spatio-Temporal Data

Looking for: MSc Student

Nowadays people generate large amounts of personal data using devices and sensors such as smart meters and thermostats in their homes, and wearable devices such as fitness trackers (e.g., Fitbit) and mobile phones. People collect these datasets driven by personal interests, thus they provide an opportunity for individuals to develop their data literacy and visualization skills.

People who create personal visualizations are seldom experts in visualization or in programming. People, however, have creative endeavors and share their creations with friends, families, and social networks both in-person and through social medias like Twitter, Facebook, and Medium.

In this research project you will create a framework for retrieving and organizing personal online data (e.g., using Google Takeout). We will use this framework to create an alternative to existing tools (e.g., an alternative to Google Timeline). You will build an application layer to allow people without programming skills to visualize their personal data, that considers personal preferences (style, aesthetics) and supports easy sharing of visualizations..

Requirements/Skills

Web programming (e.g., html, css, javascript, d3, node.js); Visual design; User-centered design; HCI/UX

Contacts and Instructions

Contact Charles Perin (cperin@uvic.ca) if you are interested in the position.

Send me an email with your (unofficial) transcripts, a blurb about yourself, why you are interested in this topic and why you think you are qualified.