Codestories Newsletter #113: Helping Everyone Make Sense of Data
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Being a data analyst, I often receive requests saying, “Could you pull out a report for me?”, and I create it. Does this person get what they asked for? Yes and no. They asked for a report, but was that actually what they wanted?
The unspoken question usually is, “I want to find out what caused X or compare X to Y, and see the current state or trend” and so on. My job isn’t just to send a link. It is to find out what the person actually wants to know. Data doesn’t say anything until asked. And a report is not an answer.
We all have different levels of “reading” data. Some are advanced; others are early beginners. The same goes with code and other “professional languages”. While one person may interpret a chart with just one glance, others may need more time to understand what they are looking at.
That’s why sharing your interpretation and recommendations on next steps is a huge help. Be concise and don’t skip on what seems obvious – it might be a matter of your experience. Speaking the same language is not always enough. It is about understanding and being understood.
Tatiana Shveikus,
Growth Data Analyst
⭐ Highlights
- Is there an unfixable flaw in Apple’s M1 chip?
- It’s time for sustainable data practices
- Europe can’t remain a green island in a dirty world
- How to write HTML right
- A data visualization course that may be right for you
🔥 News
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expanding its probe and is looking into 830,000 Tesla vehicles across four models.
MIT researchers uncover 'unpatchable' flaw in Apple M1 chips (TechCrunch)
The vulnerability could allow hackers to break through a critical line of defence of Apple hardware.
Google engineer Blake Lemoine thinks its LaMDA AI has come to life (The Washington Post)
A member of Google’s Responsible AI organization raised warnings about the company’s intelligent chatbot.
How Starlink space satellites changed the war on the ground (Politico)
The nascent internet service has been a lifeline for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
✅ Must-reads
The birth and death of the office (History Today)
Why do we have offices, and do we want them back? Get a quick history lesson.
The fall of Roam (Product Hunt)
An entrepreneur has fallen out of love with buzzy note taking tool Roam Research.
🌱 Sustainable Tech
Sustainable data: In pursuit of net zero (The Economist)
It’s time that companies collect and store data sustainably.
The EU cannot be a green island in a dirty world (Financial Times)
Europe must bring in more substantial commitments for technology and financial transfer to support global partners in the fight against climate change.
💡 Developer’s corner
Why I stopped using multiple monitors (Hacker Noon)
We all know that multiple monitors increase our productivity. Or do they?
Data race patterns in Go (Uber Engineering)
The Uber Engineering team digs into what causes data races in its use of Go.
Write HTML right (lofi.limo garage blog)
This collection of tips offer a lightweight, easygoing way to write HTML.
⚙ Tips & tricks
A data visualisation and information design course (Domestika)
The course touches on all aspects of creating a report: collecting data, processing it, designing visualizations, and getting feedback.
Implementing a robust digital identity (The GitHub Blog)
Identity management is a challenging business. The GitHub team has some tricks to keep your app and users secure.
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This is the issue 113 of Codestories Newsletter – a bi-weekly dose of latest Tech insights. You can learn more and subscribe here.
If you have any comments or feedback, feel free to contact the Codestories Team: [email protected].
