The Blogtechnologybig dataDemocracy

Visualizing Our Own Big Data

Big Data is pervading world, and yet the risk of data is that if access to data is unequal, then the data itself can increase inequality: from have's and have-not's to know and know-not's.
Open Image Modal
By 

Professor of Robotics and Director of the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon

Professor of Robotics and Director of the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon
|
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Big Data is pervading world, and yet the risk of data is that if access to data is unequal, then the data itself can increase inequality: from have's and have-not's to know and know-not's. I believe we need universal data fluency if we are to avoid this trap, and if we are to ensure that governments and corporations serve the true interests of the people.

One especially powerful Big Data set is LEHD: Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics from the U.S. Census Bureau. This is public data, owned by every one of us; and it empowers us all to see income inequality, gender inequity, career trends, income demographics and racial trends in across every block of the United States.

Today, we can all interactively explore LEHD using web-based viewers such as Explorable Visual Analytics. This is our right and our responsibility, if we are to keep our legislators honest about the trends that are shaping the world our children will inherit. So, surf the massive open data wave headed for our shores. We need the power of information in the hands of all, and on-line tools are making this feasible today.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip