Visualising 200 Years Of World Health

The BBC video embedded here is a BRILLIANT use of infographics (graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge) explaining how the health (defined by life expectancy x income) has changed over the past 200 years for all the main countries of the world.

If you're thinking of presenting data to someone then stop and think how you could use a visual and communicative approach that goes above and beyond a slide-deck ("Powerpoint") - here's some FREE tools for you to try:

• Prezi
• Google Spreadsheet: motion chart
• Google Maps (examples)
• Wordle
• Walrus

And it's not just about using your data - there are kick ass tools that will take your concepts, ideas and words and mash them up with appropriate images and the like:

• amaztype
• Flickr Time
• Websites as graphs

Of course there are too many for me to list (and it's not my area of expertise) so check out 50 Great Examples of Data Visualization for more inspiration.

And now, the video

If that had you thinking, "Cool and so simple"" then there's also a wonderful TED talk from Hans Rosling you should watch. And then read information aesthetics before gaining local inspiration from the winners of the mix & mash competition.

Forget what the corporate PR/HR people say and ditch those PowerPoint templates and Get Creative!