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Florence Nightingale, Statistical Graphics Pioneer

Posted by kdawson on from the graphical-display-of-quantitative-information dept.

Science News has a fascinating look at an under-appreciated corner of the career of Florence Nightingale — as an innovator in the use of statistical graphics to argue for social change. Nightingale returned from the Crimean War a heroine in the eyes of the British citizenry, for the soldiers' lives she had saved. But she came to appreciate that the way to save far more lives was to reform attitudes in the military about sanitation. Under the tutelage of William Farr, who had just invented the field of medical statistics, she compiled overwhelming evidence (in the form of an 830-page report) of the need for change. "As impressive as her statistics were, Nightingale worried that Queen Victoria's eyes would glaze over as she scanned the tables. So Nightingale devised clever ways of presenting the information in charts. Statistics had been presented using graphics only a few times previously, and perhaps never to persuade people of the need for social change."

16 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Prior art on Microsoft. by ScrewMaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    So Nightingale devised clever ways of presenting the information in charts.

    So, in other words, she invented PowerPoint.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    1. Re:Prior art on Microsoft. by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Funny

      I never understood the name PowerPoint. Why would you name a presentation program "Electrical Outlet"???

      For the same reason we named our planet "Dirt" - self-esteem issues ...

    2. Re:Prior art on Microsoft. by bXTr · · Score: 5, Funny

      For the same reason we named our planet "Dirt"

      which, ironically, has 2/3 of its surface covered by water. I guess "Mud" would have been a better choice.

      --
      It's a very dark ride.
    3. Re:Prior art on Microsoft. by bXTr · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm guessing you're originally from the area of the river running between the countries of Crimea and Fughen; the Crimea-Fughen river.

      --
      It's a very dark ride.
    4. Re:Prior art on Microsoft. by girlintraining · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm guessing you're originally from the area of the river running between the countries of Crimea and Fughen; the Crimea-Fughen river.

      Ah, not a country actually -- just Minnesota. Which has over 10,000 lakes, but no rivers named Crimea or Fughen that I know of. I do have some crackers here though to go with that wine of yours. You're welcome to come over eh.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  2. Re:oh god by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes I saw on wikipedia it is spelled "Nyghtengale"

  3. Re:oh god by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Mystryss Nyghtyngyle? I never knew she was into goth stuff?

  4. Thanks to her, I get it by Forrest+Kyle · · Score: 4, Funny

    So if it wasn't for Ms. Nightingale, I would never have understood the deleterious effect my cat was having on my homework performance, as it might never have been properly explained.

  5. Re:oh god by bmo · · Score: 2, Funny

    No kidding.

    I don't know what's up with the fundament haberdashery lately, but this is inexcusable.

    Calling the slashdot editors "editors" is like calling the janitor "sanitary engineer"

    No, wait, I'm being unfair to the janitors. At least they do their jobs.

    --
    BMO

  6. Re:Mod me down, but you know I'm right by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... even amongst the most technical and literate of the population (like here, on slashdot).

    Ah ha ... now there's where you went wrong.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  7. Re:oh god by xs650 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "(I'm just extra annoyed since I've been a professional technical editor and rewriter for some years. "

    It's only fair that you be extra annoyed. As a technical editor and rewriter for many years you have undoubtedly pissed off many people yourself.

  8. Re:"Okay" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes, this is /.

    ANYTHING making a point about the importance of cleanliness is welcome.

  9. Re:oh god by bXTr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now after the nameless morons get through playing their moderation games I'll probably be seriously pissed--but that's the primary reaction I ever have to /. these days. I'm convinced that /. is just another interesting idea run into the ground.

    Yet, you still come here and even contribute. You probably support government censorship of TV, radio and video game content. "Please, someone, pass some legislation so I don't have to think for myself and change channels or buy a different video game!"

    Seriously, feel free to go to some other website. Some of us want lack of quality here on /.. That's what gives it character.

    --
    It's a very dark ride.
  10. Re:oh god by Garridan · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not goth, you cad. She was Victorian!

  11. Re:oh god by Kral_Blbec · · Score: 2, Funny

    Heck, if it had been me I would have misspelled it on porpose just to piss people off.

  12. Leading ultimately to more casualties by kanweg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Proves that good intentions may cause unexpected harm. Here development ultimately lead to Death by Powerpoint casualties.

    Full circle. She couldn't win.

    Bert