How was data stored / collected in ancient times
Humans have been collecting data for centuries, to forecast events or to try and understand certain problems which led to solutions.
The earliest evidence of humans collecting data comes from 19,000 BC. Our ancestors have been using a ‘baboon tool’ named ‘Ishango bone’ to collect and perform simple calculations in their era.
(Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Ishango Bone," Convergence (March 2014)
Life back then was challenging and focused on survival in the wild, whilst having low knowledge of how the world works around us or what foods are digestive or deadly. At this point data was beginning to be collected enormously on a daily basis, on where not to go and where is safe or what plants are poisonous and which are safe. This data had to be collected and stored in the brain for survival instincts.
Although later on humans began to live in larger societies or tribes together, therefore they needed a form of communication that can be taught to new comers and handed down throughout the tribes. Therefore humans decided to create a system where their thoughts and knowledge were encoded onto clay tablets to store information
(KD Nuggets, Jonas Vandenbruaene)
Personally this is fascinating for me as now we are able to compare the growth that humanity has completed. From clay tablets to digital laptops storing enormous amounts of data a day per human. It is also genius from our ancestors to be able to create a system where this knowledge of theirs can be encoded and passed down to later generations, creating their own language to communicate.
Your data is useful, although it can come across confusing when not visualized properly or if there is too much data in one chart type or file. Therefore choosing the correct visualizations is essential to communicate the collected data.
First it is important to find the story or meaning in your data before it can be visualized, data must be relevant to a certain study or interest, once that is complete we can begin to look at how it can be transferred to visual information.
Here are 3 ways on how to find meaning in your data;
Trends can be found through seen patterns in falls or rises in collected datasets. Trends are everywhere and can help us to understand what has attracted a certain audience to your platform or product e.g. Youtube channel Views