TED2018
Tommy McCall: The simple genius of a good graphic
湯米． 麥考: 好圖表的靈思巧慧
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這場演說講述圖表的歷史和對圖表的熱愛。資訊設計師湯米． 麥考追溯數世紀來的圖表演化過程，展示如何把複雜的資料形塑成精彩的形狀。麥考說：「圖表能讓我們更快速地思考。僅用一頁就能看出整本書的資訊價值。這類圖表是開啟新發現的關鍵。」
Tommy McCall - Information designer
Tommy McCall specializes in presenting complex and rich data sets. Full bio
Tommy McCall specializes in presenting complex and rich data sets. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I love infographics.
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我愛資訊圖表。
00:14
As an information designer,
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身為資訊設計師，
00:16
I've worked with all sorts of data
over the past 25 years.
over the past 25 years.
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在這 25 年間，
我已經處理過各式各樣的資料。
我已經處理過各式各樣的資料。
00:19
I have a few insights to share,
but first: a little history.
but first: a little history.
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我有幾項洞見想要分享，
但首先，先說一點歷史。
但首先，先說一點歷史。
00:24
Communication is the encoding,
transmission and decoding of information.
transmission and decoding of information.
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溝通，就是將資訊
編碼、傳輸和解碼的過程。
編碼、傳輸和解碼的過程。
00:30
Breakthroughs in communication mark
turning points in human culture.
turning points in human culture.
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溝通上的突破
是人類文化上的轉捩點。
是人類文化上的轉捩點。
00:35
Oracy, literacy and numeracy
were great developments in communication.
were great developments in communication.
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語言的表達理解力、讀寫能力，
及計算能力，是溝通的重大發展。
及計算能力，是溝通的重大發展。
00:40
They allow us to encode ideas into words
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它們讓我們可以把想法轉換成文字，
00:42
and quantities into numbers.
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把數量轉化成數字。
00:45
Without communication, we'd still
be stuck in the Stone Ages.
be stuck in the Stone Ages.
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沒有溝通，我們就
脫離不了石器時代。
脫離不了石器時代。
00:49
Although humans have been around
for a quarter million years,
for a quarter million years,
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雖然人類已經存在了 25 萬年，
一直到 8,000 年前，
類文字才開始出現。
類文字才開始出現。
00:52
it was only 8,000 years ago
that proto-writings began to surface.
that proto-writings began to surface.
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00:56
Nearly 3,000 years later, the first
proper writing systems took shape.
proper writing systems took shape.
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幾近 3,000 年後，最早的
正規書寫系統才儼然成形。
正規書寫系統才儼然成形。
01:03
Maps have been around for millennia
and diagrams for hundreds of years,
and diagrams for hundreds of years,
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地圖已存在數千年之久，
而圖表則有數百年，
而圖表則有數百年，
01:08
but representing quantities
through graphics
through graphics
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但用圖表來表現數量
01:11
is a relatively new development.
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是相當新的發展。
01:13
It wasn't until 1786 that William Playfair
invented the first bar chart,
invented the first bar chart,
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要到 1786 年，威廉．普萊菲
發明了第一個長條圖，
發明了第一個長條圖，
01:18
giving birth to visual display
of quantitative information.
of quantitative information.
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量化資訊的視覺化呈現才由此誕生。
01:22
Fifteen years later, he introduced
the first pie and area charts.
the first pie and area charts.
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15 年之後，他提出了
最早的圓餅圖和面積圖。
最早的圓餅圖和面積圖。
01:27
His inventions are still the most
commonly used chart forms today.
commonly used chart forms today.
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他所發明的圖表至今仍廣為大眾使用。
01:32
Florence Nightingale invented
the coxcomb in 1857
the coxcomb in 1857
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1857 年，佛蘿倫絲 ．
南丁格爾發明了極區圖，
南丁格爾發明了極區圖，
01:36
for a presentation to Queen Victoria
on troop mortality.
on troop mortality.
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目的是為了把軍隊的死亡數
呈現給維多利亞女王看。
呈現給維多利亞女王看。
01:40
Highlighted in blue,
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她用藍色來凸顯
01:41
she showed how most troops' deaths
could have been prevented.
could have been prevented.
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大部分軍隊的死亡是可以避免的。
01:47
Shortly after, Charles Minard charted
Napoleon's march on Moscow,
Napoleon's march on Moscow,
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過不久，查爾斯．米納德
繪製了拿破崙到莫斯科的行軍圖，
繪製了拿破崙到莫斯科的行軍圖，
01:52
illustrating how an army of 422,000
dwindled to just 10,000
dwindled to just 10,000
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說明 422,000 名士兵的軍隊
銳減到剩下 10,000 名，
銳減到剩下 10,000 名，
01:57
as battles, geography and freezing
temperatures took their toll.
temperatures took their toll.
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是因為戰爭、地理環境
和極低溫造成了他們的傷亡。
和極低溫造成了他們的傷亡。
02:01
He combined a Sankey diagram
with cartography
with cartography
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他把桑基圖和地圖學結合，
02:05
and a line chart for temperature.
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再搭配上溫度的折線圖。
02:09
I get excited when I get
lots of data to play with,
lots of data to play with,
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當我有很多資料可以運用時，
我會很興奮，
我會很興奮，
02:11
especially when it yields
an interesting chart form.
an interesting chart form.
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特別是當資料能產生出
很有趣的圖表形式時。
很有趣的圖表形式時。
02:17
Here, Nightingale's coxcomb
was the inspiration
was the inspiration
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這張圖的靈感是來自
南丁格爾的極區圖，
南丁格爾的極區圖，
02:21
to organize data on thousands
of federal energy subsidies,
of federal energy subsidies,
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圖中整合了數千項
聯邦能源補助的資料，
聯邦能源補助的資料，
02:24
scrutinizing the lack of investment
in renewables over fossil fuels.
in renewables over fossil fuels.
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從細節可以看出，可再生能源的
投資比不上化石燃料。
投資比不上化石燃料。
02:30
This Sankey diagram illustrates
the flow of energy through the US economy,
the flow of energy through the US economy,
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這張桑基圖畫的是
美國經濟的能源流，
美國經濟的能源流，
02:34
emphasizing how nearly half
of the energy used is lost as waste heat.
of the energy used is lost as waste heat.
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強調近一半使用能源的流失，
其實都變成了廢熱。
其實都變成了廢熱。
02:42
I love it when data can be sculpted
into beautiful shapes.
into beautiful shapes.
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我很愛看見資料
被形塑成漂亮的形狀。
被形塑成漂亮的形狀。
02:45
Here, the personal and professional
connections of the women of Silicon Valley
connections of the women of Silicon Valley
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這張圖是矽谷女性的
個人和專業連結，
個人和專業連結，
02:50
can be woven into arcs,
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這些連結能被編織成弧線，
02:54
same as the collaboration of inventors
birthing patents across the globe
birthing patents across the globe
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同樣的道理，全球
發明家合作產出的專利
發明家合作產出的專利
02:58
can be mapped.
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也能繪製在地圖上。
03:01
I've even made charts for me.
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我甚至為自己製作了張圖表。
03:03
I'm a numbers person,
so I rarely win at Scrabble.
so I rarely win at Scrabble.
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我是個數字人，
所以玩拼字遊戲很少贏。
所以玩拼字遊戲很少贏。
03:06
I made this diagram to remember
all the two- and three-letter words
all the two- and three-letter words
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我製作了這張圖，
來記住官方拼字遊戲字典中
來記住官方拼字遊戲字典中
所有 2、3 個字母拼成的字。
03:09
in the official Scrabble dictionary.
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03:11
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
03:12
Knowing these 1,168 words
certainly is a game changer.
certainly is a game changer.
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知道這 1,168 個字，
肯定能改變遊戲的局面。
肯定能改變遊戲的局面。
03:15
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
03:16
Sometimes I produce code
to quickly generate graphics
to quickly generate graphics
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有時如有數千個資料點，
我會透過寫程式碼來快速產出圖表。
03:20
from thousands of data points.
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03:23
Coding also enables me
to produce interactive graphics.
to produce interactive graphics.
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寫程式碼也能夠讓我
製作出互動式的圖表。
製作出互動式的圖表。
03:26
Now we can navigate information
on our own terms.
on our own terms.
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現在我們就可以
依自己的意願來瀏覽資訊。
依自己的意願來瀏覽資訊。
03:32
Exotic chart forms certainly look cool,
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奇特的圖表形式看起來真的很酷，
03:34
but something as simple
as a little dot may be all you need
as a little dot may be all you need
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但有時解決特定的思維任務，
可能只需要很簡單的小圓點。
03:37
to solve a particular thinking task.
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03:41
In 2006, the "New York Times"
redesigned their "Markets" section,
redesigned their "Markets" section,
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2006 年，《紐約時報》
重新設計了他們的「市場」版，
重新設計了他們的「市場」版，
03:45
cutting it down from eight pages
of stock listings
of stock listings
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把原本 8 頁的股票列表
縮減到只剩一頁半的重要市場資訊。
03:48
to just one and a half pages
of essential market data.
of essential market data.
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03:52
We listed performance metrics
for the most common stocks,
for the most common stocks,
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我們針對最常見的股票
列出績效表，
列出績效表，
03:55
but I wanted to help investors
see how the stocks are doing.
see how the stocks are doing.
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但我想要協助投資者
觀察股票的表現。
觀察股票的表現。
03:59
So I added a simple little dot
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所以我加上了一個簡單的小圓點，
04:01
to show the current price
relative to its one-year range.
relative to its one-year range.
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來呈現目前個股市價
在其一年股價範圍的落點為何。
在其一年股價範圍的落點為何。
04:06
At a glance, value investors can pick out
stocks trading near their lows
stocks trading near their lows
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價值投資者只要快速一瞥，
找出落在左邊的圓點，
找出落在左邊的圓點，
就能挑出股價接近低點的股票。
04:10
by looking for dots to the left.
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04:12
Momentum investors can find stocks
on an upward trajectory
on an upward trajectory
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動能投資者能透過落在右邊的圓點，
找到股價呈現上升趨勢的股票。
04:16
via dots to the right.
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04:18
Shortly after, the "Wall Street Journal"
copied the design.
copied the design.
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沒多久，《華爾街日報》
就複製了這種設計。
就複製了這種設計。
04:21
Simplicity is often the goal
for most graphics,
for most graphics,
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大部分圖表的訴求是簡潔，
04:24
but sometimes we need
to embrace complexity
to embrace complexity
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但有時，我們會需要擁抱複雜，
04:27
and show large data sets
in their full glory.
in their full glory.
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把大型資料集充份呈現出來。
04:32
Alec Gallup, the former chairman
of the Gallup Organization,
of the Gallup Organization,
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亞歷克．蓋洛普是
蓋洛普的前任董事長，
蓋洛普的前任董事長，
04:36
once handed me a very thick book.
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他有一次給我一本非常厚的書。
04:38
It was his family's legacy:
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那是他的家庭遺產：
04:39
hundreds of pages covering six decades
of presidential approval data.
of presidential approval data.
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幾百頁的資料收集了
60 年來對總統的滿意度。
60 年來對總統的滿意度。
04:44
I told him the entire book
could be graphed on a single page.
could be graphed on a single page.
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我告訴他，這整本書的內容
可以用一頁的圖來呈現。
可以用一頁的圖來呈現。
04:47
"Impossible," he said.
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他說：「不可能。」
就是這張圖：
04:50
And here it is:
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25,000 個資料點，
在一頁中完整呈現。
在一頁中完整呈現。
04:52
25,000 data points on a single page.
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04:55
At a glance, one sees that most presidents
start with a high approval rating,
start with a high approval rating,
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只要看一眼，就能看出大部分
總統一開始的批准率都很高，
總統一開始的批准率都很高，
04:58
but few keep it.
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但很少人能維持高批准率。
05:00
Events like wars initially boost approval;
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像是戰爭這類的事件，
一開始會讓滿意度大增；
一開始會讓滿意度大增；
05:02
scandals trigger declines.
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醜聞會讓它下滑。
05:05
These major events were annotated
in the graphic but not in the book.
in the graphic but not in the book.
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這些重大事件被註記在圖上，
但書中卻沒有。
但書中卻沒有。
05:09
The point is, graphics can transmit data
with incredible efficiency.
with incredible efficiency.
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重點是，圖表能以驚人的
效率來傳達資料。
效率來傳達資料。
05:16
Graphicacy --
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圖形能力——
05:17
the ability to read and write graphics --
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讀圖和作圖的能力——
05:19
is still in its infancy.
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還在嬰兒期的階段。
05:21
New chart forms will emerge
and specialized dialects will evolve.
and specialized dialects will evolve.
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新的圖表形式會出現，
所屬的專業用語也會蔚然成形。
所屬的專業用語也會蔚然成形。
05:25
Graphics that help us think faster
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圖表能讓我們更快速地思考，
05:27
or see a book's worth
of information on a single page
of information on a single page
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或僅用一張頁面就能看出
一整本書的資訊價值，
一整本書的資訊價值，
05:30
are the key to unlocking new discoveries.
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這類圖表是開啟新發現的關鍵。
05:35
Our visual cortex was built
to decode complex information
to decode complex information
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我們視覺皮質的功能
是把複雜的資訊解碼，
是把複雜的資訊解碼，
05:38
and is a master at pattern recognition.
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它是圖形辨識大師。
05:41
Graphicacy enables us
to harness our built-in GPU
to harness our built-in GPU
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圖形能力讓我們能利用
我們內建的圖形處理器
我們內建的圖形處理器
05:44
to process mountains of data
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來處理堆積如山的資料，
05:46
and find the veins of gold hiding within.
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並找出藏在其中的金礦礦脈。
05:49
Thank you.
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謝謝。
05:50
(Applause and cheers)
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（掌聲與歡呼）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tommy McCall - Information designerTommy McCall specializes in presenting complex and rich data sets.
Why you should listen
McCall founded and operates Infographics.com, a boutique data visualization agency that specializes in presenting complex and rich data sets. As an infographics designer, editor and producer, McCall brings together three realms of experience to present, visualize and understand complex data. As a designer, he aims to find the natural shape of the data and sculpt it into something captivating and beautiful. As a data editor, he finds the stories and shares the insights hidden within what is often a vast sea of information. As a producer, he oversees programmers, designers, data analysts, animators and illustrators to realize his vision.
McCall believes that graphicacy, the ability to communicate data through charts, diagrams and maps, is an emerging essential skill set, just as literacy and numeracy have been for past generations. He is excited by the opportunities to pioneer new chart forms to communicate specialized data sets as the collection and generation of data exponentially increase.
McCall was the infographics editor for Money Magazine and a graphics editor for the New York Times before launching his studio. He has explored over one hundred countries spanning all seven continents. Recently, he has taken a sabbatical to combine his a passion for travel with filmmaking to produce video "mediations" in ultra-high-definition intended for large-scale projection.
Tommy McCall | Speaker | TED.com