How big data might induce learning with interactive visualization tools

The essay presents some results of a initial collaboration carried out between Polytechnic of Turin and CSI Piemonte (In-house ICT company of Piemonte Region). Different data visualization tools were selected and studied (Gapminder, ManyEyes, Open eXplorer and Fineo) in order to aid inductive learning about BD. The intelligent use of public sector information (PSI) becomes an important player for researches, urban studies and the governance but also for business. The doubling of digital information each two years made Data Visualization discipline crucial for accesses and understand complex info especially for business analysts. “We discover the world through our eyes says” wrote Few, one of the most important manager of visual communication. Accordingly, forms of communication such as Graph and tables boosted the visual dimension for creating relation between values, colors, shapes and most of all analyst and customers are exploring new dimension of learning (“storytelling” dimension). As planners and citizen, we rely greatly on eyes which are managing most of human sensors (nearly 70%) giving a crucial role to perception and cognitive maps, bias and new thoughts. Among the different tools and approaches, this paper highlights and applies a visualization and analytic technique for a specific case study (Unione dei Comuni NordEst Torino) where it is newly important to try synergies in decision making, planning and inductive learning processes .