Re: [WedTech] aluminum ant colony

[Steve Smith]

Owen sed:

I wonder how they deduce which areas are used for what purpose?  They stated several cases but w/o explanation, I think.

Taking this to FRIAM where introspective, tangential maunderings are more tolerated.

I'm sure they knew a *huge* amount about ant colony structure and function before doing this.  While I'm sure they learned a few new things, especially across a number of such "sculptures", I'm guessing the commentary was simply confirming existing knowledge... probably not easily deduced from what was being seen/shown alone.

My father did a similar expository project in HS biology by killing a piglet, bleeding it out, then injecting colored latex (red into the Aorta and Blue into the Vena Cavae) into it's circulatory system.  Once cured, he then boiled away the flesh and was left with the entertwined vascular system in red and blue latex, right down (almost?) to the capillary level.   The first person who did such a thing *might* have learned something new, and I'm sure *he* learned any number of new things, but no real advancement was made... it probably got him an extra-credit grade and encouraged him to continue...   The story *still* creeps me out.

I think what makes these kinds of "displays" powerful is their expository ability over any analytic power.   Much so-called Data Viz/Info Viz is in the same realm... it's power is not in helping you see something new that you didn't/couldn't already know, but in presenting concisely something you already knew (or could have known).  As a novice to the data, it can feel as if the presentation is showing you something new when more often than not, it is simply being concise or sadly even hyperbolic, enhancing one interesting aspect (at the expense of the others). 

In my work with Visual Analytics (or Data Viz or Info Viz or ...), I am often frustrated that people will get excited over the mundane while not being willing to slow down or focus enough to notice the subtle and sublime.   Tufte, and even more to the point, Tukey have done a lot to set a good standard but sadly, USA Today seems to be where people are most familiar with the concept.  

Russel Munroe of XKCD fame seems to have a very good perspective on how to do it well (and ... and... and) as well as how to make fun of it ... and some more.   On careful review, I realized all of his work is about making fun, but *clearly* the guy has some real insight into the topics and methods at hand.

And if you are a real Viz-Geek you have to check out this tribute piece to XKCD.

With the broad popularization of science as a spectator sport, I think the actual work of science has been lost (obscured).   I think this is more the nature of pop culture than of science, however.

mumble,

- Steve

   -- Owen

On Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 12:42 PM, Steve Smith <[hidden email]> wrote:

Ever wonder what would happen if you poured molten aluminum into an ant hole.
http://www.sciencedump.com/content/what-happens-when-you-pour-1200f-molten-aluminum-anthill
Cody Smith

"the cast will sacrifice the lives of the ants..."

The results *were* very cool.



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