Lectures in Data Visualization: Dominik Moritz, Carnegie Mellon University

The future of Data Science is Live and in the Browser

Data science is a constantly evolving field, and as such, it is important to continually explore new ideas for improving the tools we use. In this talk, I will talk about two ideas that may change how and where we build these tools.

First, I will argue that data science should be interactive and live, with no wait time for changing filters or updating parameters. Slow analysis has been shown to have disadvantages and even dangers, yet few tools have been able to provide both a seamless user experience and the necessary performance. We will explore how web developers have already achieved this level of interactivity and demonstrate how the same experience should be and can be delivered to data workers.

Second, we will examine how the browser is already how that data scientists access many tools, such as Jupyter and ChatGPT. However, delays caused by network connections create new challenges for tool builders. We will explore the opportunities that new technologies like WebAssembly, WebGPU, and Apache Arrow offer for analysis and machine learning completely in the browser.

Register to Attend

The Brown Institute at Columbia Journalism School, in partnership with the Data Science Institute and the Department of Computer Science, is excited to present a lecture series that delves into the art and science of data visualization. This dynamic interdisciplinary series will explore the ways in which technology is transforming how we encounter, comprehend, and create data-driven narratives. The series will take place every other Thursday over the lunch hour from March to May, and will feature esteemed experts in these fields. Over the course of a few months, we will explore the profound impact that the tools and techniques utilized in data visualization have on the stories we can tell.

The series will include five lectures, led by renowned experts including Cindy Xiong, Dom Moritz, Arvind Satyanarayan, Jen Christiansen, and Gurman Bhatia. The topics to be covered in the series are diverse and thought-provoking, encompassing the role of ML in data visualization, the design process for best representing the stories behind the data, the future of interactive visualization, and the very role tools play in our approaches to graphics. Whether you’re a data scientist, a journalist, a technologist, a storyteller, or a combination thereof, this series will explore a practice that spans all disciplines. Join us as we hear from these experts and engage in interactive discussions exploring the latest advancements in data visualization and technology.

Join us for a lecture followed by a small reception, all held in the Brown Institute for Media Innovation on the entry floor of Pulitzer Hall (Journalism School). Registration required.

About the Speaker

Dominik Moritz is on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University where he co-directs the Data Interaction Group (https://dig.cmu.edu/) at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute. His group’s research develops interactive systems that empower everyone to effectively analyze and communicate data. Dominik also manages the visualization team in Apple’s machine learning organization. His systems (Vega-Lite, Falcon, Draco, Voyager, and others) have won awards at academic venues (e.g. IEEE VIS and CHI), are widely used in industry, and by the Python and JavaScript data science communities. Dominik got his PhD from the Paul G. Allen School at the University of Washington, where he was advised by Jeff Heer and Bill Howe.