Project Palantir is a visualization of all the actions, interpreted as data, that Facebook generates. The visualization has many facets. In one, data is represented as floating off the planet (cool idea). In another, the visualization represents the interactions connecting across the planet.
We all know that the world in the 21st century is highly connected and intertwined, but a visualization like this provides living proof. Whenever we need to describe abstractions, it’s usually best to make them concrete. The human mind works in metaphors and seeing data visualized as animated streaks works well as a metaphor for the movement of data.
Imagine if you were to read about all the interactions that occur through Facebook around the planet. Your response might be something like, “Yeah, I know.” But a visualization has a stronger effect on the mind, making the impact of the data more compelling.
