Making data mean more through storytelling | Ben Wellington | TEDxBroadway

Ben Wellington uses data to tell stories. In fact, he draws on some key lessons from fields well outside computer science and data analysis to make his observations about New York City fascinating. Never has a fire hydrant been so interesting as in this talk.
Ben Wellington is a computer scientist and data analyst whose blog, I Quant NY, uses New York City open data to tell stories about everything from parking ticket geography to finding the sweet spot in MetroCard pricing. His articles have gone viral and, in some cases, led to policy changes. Wellington teaches a course on NYC open data at the Pratt Institute and is a contributor to Forbes and other publications.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@blackypurkait196]

This is totally awesome. The way he appreciates the fact of keeping things simple really connects with me. I also believe that in order to make an impact things always don't need to be complex. A single and simple idea can also change the world.

[@Mailornish]

Love this insight. I came to Ted to watch a different data analyst presentation for a Google Data Analytics course and this one really spoke to me so much more!

[@ugbevivian8331]

Same here! almost completing my first course. watching this talk just got me really inspired .

[@MantissaMr]

Yeah me too.

[@terencepatrick0001]

Me too! This TED talk is way better than the one linked in Week 5.

[@calvinmartens535]

Me too... someone should do some analysis of where this video's traffic comes from. LOL

[@anettk5918]

I was watching a Google Data Analyst course TED video before this one...I am so glad I kept watching this video as next one! Very informative and inspirational! Thank you!👍

[@MichaelLuchiesTrepRep]

This is great. A lot of work went into this. Very entertaining and informative.

[@hanhngo2355]

Why this speech is so underrated. It is very interesting and informative.

[@cassiemiao]

Best data storytelling story I've ever watched!!! Love it!

[@irshduck]

Data is the most powerful tool when analyzed and displayed correctly. It's your backbone to what already feel to be true and wish to convey that to others!

[@christinehoyos2324]

This is such a fantastic Talk re: data. I'm an education consultant/ coach and regularly work with teachers who are intimidated by data. Our organization, Abeo School Change, often uses the language of "story telling" re: data. I'm so excited to use this video as a resource for teachers. Thank you so much!

[@hongjiang3399]

i love the way he is using his skills to make impact to the community!! really inspiring!

[@RVideoTutorials]

Wow...loved it. Very interesting and important for analytics professionals.

[@TayuanRebelo]

This is genius in so many ways! I’m not a New Yorker and I was able to follow your stories through your data!

[@RIDDLE0MASTER]

This is really inspiring. Thank you, Doctor.

[@English_JohnB]

Excellent presentation... I'm an English teacher in South America and this video has becoming a talking point in some of my classes. Thanks for teaching us how to create an interesting data story of our own. 👍

[@ForTheWin2007]

These are super helpful advice. Thank you Ben!

[@MacroAggressor]

Really interesting... I'd be very interested in more videos by Mr. Wellington.

[@xXFlutschiBFHXx]

Our professor told us to watch this video (big data, data science class) and I love it. It gave me even more motivation to learn this subject. :)

[@MyFukinBass]

Man I was researching this field and this man got me pumped about it, thank you!

[@samuelakuma7155]

Awesome how he told his data story, just awesome.

[@catchili]

It was a little hard for me to follow but I LOVE it! Very good data and a lot of information. Enjoyed the talk.

[@viciwo3396]

Great insight on data story telling. I love this!

[@sibeiho]

This guy is farking amazing. He cemented my Data Scientist dream

[@pralaysangma8019]

Awesome presentation, simple and very effective.

[@sprasad1978]

Very much enjoyed the talk. You made an impact for sure 😄

[@coreycox2345]

I love throwing data at a map and seeing what it looks like. It is a kind of goofing around that can result in surprises.

[@coreycox2345]

@andy low It doesn't matter. I have done cartography with drafting pencils and it has a quality that is mostly lost these days. GIS for large data sets reveals more and is faster, though.

[@Daro2023]

woaaaw super impressed by impact of data! thanks for cool idea!

[@TheOfficialJeppezon]

I want more!

[@blogginbuggin]

@9:20 my favorite part of the talk

[@daisyfighting9763]

very interesting and inspiring video about data analytics, a good way to tell the importance of data, very good speech~

[@jonathanvalleroy5741]

We see analytic stories more frequent than we notice. We can see this within any industry which is extremely interesting of how embedded it is in our society.

[@frankservant5754]

I loved every single minute of it

[@eshu111]

Really great talk.

[@alanpina354]

Loved this guy!

[@21MTony]

This was awesome haha. Gave me a huge insight on how I can better my data analysis.

[@rosesimon8226]

Everytime he made i point I was always ready to scream with him ..... IMPACT !!! Sure felt like I was winning with him

[@kingsta4145]

Amazing talk!

[@DNAblues]

Great talk. I noticed something in your comment about a stats course that you teach at Pratt. You use Excel to teach some if not all of the course. Factoid: Excel is the most popular statistics product in the world. Based on your talk I am going to create a story on what types of schools use Excel to teach stats. So far it looks like 2 and 4 year colleges but not universities are the biggest users.

[@D3athW1ng]

As a NY'er, I can relate to all of these findings. :D

[@vitriemaulani]

Amazing!

[@lornasurianohernandez4551]

Very interesting! I'm just learning about data and this was pretty clarifying about the concept of storytelling

[@Weatherman1214]

Outstanding marriage of data science and urban planning.

[@kerushun]

Fantastic

[@as_below_so_above]

I love the applause for getting that parking spot painted 😅

[@qwabe1]

Amazing 😉 presentation

[@arturkvieira]

Jumpstart it to 06:00. You're wellcome.

[@Chirpysemperboy]

"One thing I noticed is CVS is attacking from the sea." Yep, and looking at the map, Rite Aid is starting it's front from the north and we have the Walgreens Revolutionary Army starting pockets of resistance wherever they can.

[@MrGrapha]

Het is op zich een simpele stap als het bouwen van die wolkenkrabbers, dat je ook alle wegen ook gaat vermeerderen, en dus meerdere lagen gaat maken, die hermeties dicht zijn, en wellicht stel je zou drie lagen maken, twee voor auto's en een bovenste voor de fietsen en lopende mensen, beetje groen hier een daar en hups ze merken dan niet eens meer dat auto's, ze zien het niet meer dan, lijkt me echt mooi als dat zo gemaakt kan worden, open lucht voor mensen die gewoon al wandelend of fietsend door de open lucht gaan en al die auto's eronder, het lijkt me niet onmogelijk omdat wolkenkrabbers daar doen ze ook moeite voor

[@PeanutsandPopcorn]

This was fun

[@MrGrapha]

Niemand die meer hoeft te wachten voordat die mag oversteken en moet oppassen dat die door niet opletten een ongeluk krijgt wat een ontspannen sfeer er van zou komen, gewoon daar gelijk heen lopen waar je maar heen wil lopen terwijl de auto's onder jou voorbij razen wat een heerlijke vrijheid van bewegen zou je ermee krijgen enkel om het idee nog beter voor te spiegelen

[@armanke13]

Now media embrace this kind of storytelling, dubbed data journalism.

[@vitolongo4511]

I went to Pratt. I was warped as a designer

[@evelynx9937]

It's interesting! Obvious Ben is a good storyteller!

[@anthonyrossi8255]

Interesting

[@helalbhuiyan2479]

inspiring

[@egwuaborjoel4717]

Congratulation to us who made it here from Google Data Analytics course, we will get there!

[@louwenjuan8179]

Hi, I’m from the course either.😄

[@gG-cl8id]

Whether the belief of: "That knoweldge can be enhanced by data ... ," is a truthful comment. Although, one important fact was left out. The fact of data, can either be truthful or fabricated and implemented by digital force.

[@amith_1923]

Ya that was epic😂

[@papicoco5069]

Impact! *F yeah!*

[@mhtinla]

Haha... love the talk. Data lie too, but they sure tell good comedy.

[@prakashithawar56]

mhtinla no

[@9zQx86LT]

@@prakashithawar56 he is a comedian not a data story teller.

[@rwlpfrench]

The data is available for anyone to look at so Prove the data is lying......

[@gbolabodba]

Cool

[@Javi-du7lb]

The only interesting TED Talk guy I've heard. sigma dude

[@cherylm2C6671]

This is like John Snow's map of cholera. Where in the city are the accidents happening and what is the feature?

[@9zQx86LT]

Beg to differ here... people with no information about the NY city probably won't be able to understand what he is trying to comprehend. I was fine till bicycle accidents... but after that.. i didn't see any story telling. May be due to given time.. he was moving to other topics quickly. He is good at presenting things with comedy.. but, i don't know.. no so good with story telling. WOW! factor was missing I guess.

[@DrNishaArora]

It's because we Indians don't know much NY. I listen to it twice and even googled to know what is DOT and NYPD. to understand the story about the fire hydrants at around 11:30. Then I understood

[@haflelife2523]

if i ever need to be a comedian to be a scientist i'd prefer robbing banks

[@spoilerkiller]

'I, Robot' anybody?

[@benzimmerman4340]

hi

[@galacticdeep]

I like your outfit, friend!

[@MrGrapha]

jullie hebben zoveel verdiepingen waar jullie in kunnen vertoeven maar om van plek naar plek te komen helaas daar is alleen de bodem maar en voetgangers samen met auto's toch verander dat eens en maak meerdere lagen en de bovenste is voor de voetgangers ik zeg zo van doe dat maar het is jullie eigen keus weet je

[@MrGrapha]

ik hoop dat de idee doordringt en geloofd gaat worden, die new york is toch ook zon mega drukke stad toch, en die wolkenkrabbers staan er niet voor niets, maar die wegen moeten evenzo meer lagen krijgen, daar is zelfs groot belang in, net als dus bij die wolkenkrabbers was en is ze staan er al dus klaar, ik zou het zelfs zeker kunnen stellen dat het een mega goed idee is, nou jullie nog

[@panchalnikeel4600]

I mostly ask for English spoken

[@Hesbonful]

The opener of your speech is unclear in regard to outline and objectives....

[@9zQx86LT]

Exactly. See my comment... even i got lost into his conversation... something was missing.

[@beautifulsmall]

fastai, , no math

[@Mercy_Lifestyle]

Love this insight. I came to Ted to watch a different data analyst presentation for a Google Data Analytics course and this one really spoke to me so much more!

[@louwenjuan8179]

Me too

[@gG-cl8id]

Whether the belief of: "That knoweldge can be enhanced by data ... ," is a truthful comment. Although, one important fact was left out. The fact of data, can either be truthful or fabricated and implemented by digital force.