October 23, 2007Greetings from the DataSphereWhat is this thing, this DataSphere? Think of it as a toolbox, a library, a warehouse full of data. Yeah, I know. Data. Makes you want to have a nap. But this is no online statistics class. This is stuff you can use: dozens of search-for-yourself databases on topics from schools, crime and politics to Virginia Tech football and trophy freshwater fish. Its news you find yourself and filter yourself, all set up for you to search with a click or two. The Roanoke Times isn’t the first to offer a site like this. As the cliché goes: Talent imitates, genius steals. You can see some fine efforts – ones that inspired us – at websites for papers like the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Indianapolis Star, the Greenville (S.C.) News, and the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press. We are, however, the first paper in Virginia to offer a site like this. We feel like we’ve got a good beginning with databases we’ve collected ourselves, and links to searchable data on both government and commercial sites elsewhere on the web. I’ll post a fact of the week, plus links to stories by our staff and others that relate to data. I’ve also got links to documents in the news, like the Michael Vick indictment and the Virginia Tech Review Panel report. We’ll get better as we go. There’s plenty more data to come, like real estate transfers and property assessments and crime statistics. And then there’s this blog, where you can offer your thoughts on what you found, or wish you’d found. I’ll be posting here often, pointing out new data, showing off the newsy nuggets and just plain oddities I find, and gathering your thoughts. So, consider this an invitation to help make this site as useful as it can be. Well, what do you think so far? |
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Comments
[October 23, 2007 6:45 PM]
Chrisbone : →http://www.mediafrenzy.wsNow, when you say 'data' are you talking about that pasty character from Star Trek--Next Generation? Congrats on this thing, man. Fire up the datapult!
[October 23, 2007 7:12 PM]
Lindsey : →http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/Awesome!! How exciting to see you up and running. We've definitely got to get some eats on here.
[October 24, 2007 8:08 PM]
Valerie : →http://savecountryside.blogspot.com/Great banner - you look all-knowing and wise. Sure like that golf link ... imagine that! Do you want link suggestions? What are the bondaries ... you know I love this stuff. What about a contest .... a "can you find this statistic" type challenge.
[October 24, 2007 8:29 PM]
sethit's nice to see you up and running.
-seth
[October 25, 2007 9:41 AM]
Marty Martin : →http://blog.roanokehousehunter.com/This is great! It's exactly the sort of thing Roanokers, both new and old need to keep track of what's going on in our community!
[October 25, 2007 11:18 AM]
stuGood job Matt, I have some others databases you can link to... Give me a shout and we can work out the details...
[October 25, 2007 1:49 PM]
ToniaUm...nice, big, face, Matt. :-)
Speaking as an old dotcom employee, I have to say this is one of the best things our site has ever offered.
In fact, I'd put it in the top two, along with the editorial board's blog.
Great job!
TLM
[October 25, 2007 5:32 PM]
LexieWay to go Mattster!
Despite,my relations comment that I would have some "NYC-ultra(I think the word we use here in the big apple now is uber)-cool opinion", I simply think you are doing what you do best...a really interesting and fabulous job! And, oh, yes, you do seem to have a really big head!
[October 25, 2007 7:54 PM]
Ms. Elenaeous : →http://MsElenaeousinRoanoke.blogspot.comGood start...how about adding a police blotter?
[October 26, 2007 3:03 PM]
Patrick Beeson : →http://patrickbeeson.comThis looks to be a great product for roanoke.com with an eager, seasoned journalist behind it.
I've posted a write-up on the DataSphere on my blog with a few suggestions on how it could be made better.
But the core premise is solid -- keep it up!
[November 4, 2007 11:05 PM]
KurtMatt-good luck - great start. Looking forward to future developments. Keep it up! K
[November 11, 2007 10:21 AM]
Tina : →http://tcoffey.edublogs.orgMatt, I have to admit, data is not something that catches my attention the first go around ;) I'm an educator though, so on my second look at your blog, I'm wondering...how could I use this in education? Well, there are plenty of examples of teachers using real-world data in their classrooms. Take, for instance, some of the examples on David Warlick's Website-- http://tinyurl.com/ypd5b2 So, what kind of local data would my elementary teachers/ students be able to use in Math class (or other subjects)? I know you've helped us out with creative writing before, but I'd love to hear some "data" ideas too! Tina
[November 13, 2007 2:31 PM]
Matt : →http://www.roanoke.com/datasphere/Glad you dropped by again, Tina. And what an intriguing question. Not being much of a math guy myself, actually (I fulfilled my undergrad math requirement with a class called "Liberal Arts Math") I'm at a disadvantage here. But, that said, if you're looking for real world stuff, it's here. Why not use Frank Beamer's record at Virginia Tech for calculating averages or assessing probability. How about graphing some data, like the number of deer killed in each locality annually? It's all right here. And don't forget geography. Have you exposed your kids to GIS? Not only can you see your own house in an aerial photo and get all kinds of nosey information about how much your neighbor's paid for their home, you can see development patterns there, too. See what sprawl looks like from the air. See development density, too. See how crowded we are in some places, and how green the land is in others. How's that for a start?