Google Launches Public Data Visualisation Tool

Mar 09 2010 - Google - Farhad Divecha

Almost exactly 3 years ago, in March 2007, Google acquired Gapminder’s Trendalyzer software. They have now put this technology to use and released it in the public domain.

Google Public Data

The Trendalyzer software allows users to access various statistics in an interactive and animated format, which is definitely much more interesting than just having to read dull details from a table. This technology is also used in motion chart gadgets, such as the Google Visualization API and Google Docs.

Google Public Data Charting Minimum Wages In Europe

Google has now launched the Public Data Explorer, which will allow users to analyse statistical data on a wide variety of subjects ranging fromunemployment rates to the fertility rates in various countries. The data is provided by reliable authorities such as the World Bank, EuroStat, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisitics and U.S. Census Bureau.

The tool was generally expected to supplement data already available on Google Maps. While it isn’t currently available directly on Google Maps, it does make it easy and interesting to not only visualise and explore the data on a map or a graph but also to share it by embedding it or posting a direct URL to a particular data set.

The animated charts will be updated automatically so users will always receive the latest data available at the time. Users can also click on the play button to visualise the changes in data over a period of time.