This document discusses the history and context of maps and navigation. It explains that the word "navigate" comes from Latin words meaning "to ship" and "do". The first map books were created in 1580. Context is important for understanding data as statements about measurements require disclaimers. Different map projections like Mercator and Peters can distort sizes and shapes depending on context. Understanding context is key to interpreting data.

1. Data and Context (1)
Michael Dlugosch
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3. to navigate
from lat.:
navis = “ship”
ago = “do”
Michael Dlugosch
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6. 1580: The first “Map Book”
Michael Dlugosch
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9. Data and Context (2)
Michael Dlugosch
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11. (1) [Title] B.C. 2348. THE DELUGE.
(2) [Approximate longitude] 48°E
(3) [Approximate latitude] 31°N
Michael Dlugosch
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16. Panorama
from ancient gr.:
πᾱν - “all” and
ὅραµα - “view”
Michael Dlugosch
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17. Data and Context (wrapup)
Michael Dlugosch
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18. (a) Data: Conventions matter more than objectivity.
(b) Data and Context are co-dependent.
(c) Context always requires an external reference.
(d) Statements about measurements require disclaimers.
(e) “Success criteria” is just another narrative.
(f) Ask questions about the context, not about the data.
Michael Dlugosch
Thursday, March 31, 2011

19. A final word about data
Michael Dlugosch
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21. Mercator, 16th century Peters, 20th century
Africa, area size: 29.800.000 sqkm
Greenland, area size: 2.175.600 sqkm
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22. Thank you!
Michael Dlugosch, M.A.
Mail: michael.dlugosch@frantic.com
Twitter: scrutinizer20
gsm: +358 40 861 9337
Blog: http://michael.westendintie.net
Thursday, March 31, 2011

23. Michael Dlugosch
Thursday, March 31, 2011

24. URL resources used for this pro bono presentation, held on March 30th, 2011
during the Web Analytics Wednesday in Sanomatalo, Helsinki:
Abraham Ortelius: Septentrionalium Regionum Descrip., sl. 2, 6
http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/25809/Septentrionalium_Regionum_Descrip/Ortelius.html
Large version:
http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/enlarge/25809
Guntherus Ziner: schematic T and O map, 1472, sl. 4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:T_and_O_map_Guntherus_Ziner_1472.jpg
Gerhard Mercator: Septentrionalium Terrarum descriptio, 1595 print, sl. 7
http://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/maps/websites/northwest-passage/mercator.htm
Edward Quin: An Historic Atlas of the World, sl. 9, 10, 12, 13,14
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~686~70075?qvq=q:Quin,+Edward;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort,Pub_Date;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=1&trs=90
Latitude and Logitude of a Point, sl. 11
http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html
Cylindrical projection, sl. 19
http://www.boehmwanderkarten.de/kartographie/is_netze_cyl.html
Mercator projection vs. Peters projection, sl. 21
http://www.kowoma.de/gps/geo/Projektionen.htm
Further references:
++ appendix: Arctic inset as as vignette, drawn by Gerhard Mercator
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/images/mercator.gif
++ appendix: "No. 889: The First Atlas" by Prof. John H. Lienhard / University of Houston (TX)
http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi889.htm
++ appendix: Inventio Fortunata (and Mercator's letter to John Dee)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventio_Fortunata
++ appendix: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrum_Orbis_Terrarum
-- appendix: The Mercator projection
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercator_projection
++ appendix: Norbert Bolz, Am Ende der Gutenberg-Galaxis, München 1993 Michael Dlugosch
This quote: p 101 (translated by MD, unapproved)
Thursday, March 31, 2011