Syn- optic
| Date of Release | 2009 |
| Client | Personal Project |
| Type of Work | Web |
| Deliverables | Development, Data Visualization, Interface Design, Interaction Design, Screen Design, Sound Design, Conception |
Synoptic is based on the idea of generating an interactive information graphic out of the chronological sequences of meteorological data. With the assistance of an abstract realtime-visualization a world is created where the user is able to move freely and becomes fascinated with the complex dependency of several measured data.
For a lot of people weather is only of interest when they have to choose the right clothes, plan recreational activities or find topics of conversation. Rarely is everyday weather able to fascinate people such that they engage in the science behind it or observe and analyze its history.
Further our senses, which we use to perceive weather, aren't constructed to recognize fine variations in weather conditions so that it is very hard to compare two or more of them over days or months.
Daily archived meteorological data of Augsburg (Germany) is the basis for the online application, which gives users the potential to choose from given measured data in order to receive the visualization of a certain time segment. Meanwhile selected values are interpreted as a three dimensional graph, which generates a terrain the user is able to move through freely and discover the coherence and the changes of meteorological data over time.
Weather is indeed a complex issue the characteristics of which do not become apparent until it is visualized. To find a visual expression, which is simultaneously fascinating and clearly interpretable, turns out to be the real issue to deal with. On the other hand it was a big challenge to handle such a huge amount of data - up to 96 measurements a day - in an effective way, so that the system resources are preserved, even as a realtime 3D visualization has to be generated at the same time. To afford a great user experience the development and design of the interface has to be done in a manner which is easy to understand and intuitive to work with.
Awards
2009: Silver at Malofiej 17 (SND-E) in the online category
