How to Lie with Maps
Originally published to wide acclaim, this lively, cleverly illustrated essay on the use and abuse of maps teaches us how to evaluate maps critically and promotes a healthy skepticism about these easy-to-manipulate models of reality. Monmonier shows that, despite their immense value, maps lie. In fact, they must.
The second edition is updated with the addition of two new chapters, 10 color plates, and a new foreword by renowned geographer H. J. de Blij. One new chapter examines the role of national interest and cultural values in national mapping organizations, including the United States Geological Survey, while the other explores the new breed of multimedia, computer-based maps.
To show how maps distort, Monmonier introduces basic principles of mapmaking, gives entertaining examples of the misuse of maps in situations from zoning disputes to census reports, and covers all the typical kinds of distortions from deliberate oversimplifications to the misleading use of color.
“Professor Monmonier himself knows how to gain our attention; it is not in fact the lies in maps but their truth, if always approximate and incomplete, that he wants us to admire and use, even to draw for ourselves on the facile screen. His is an artful and funny book, which like any good map, packs plenty in little space.”—Scientific American
“A useful guide to a subject most people probably take too much for granted. It shows how map makers translate abstract data into eye-catching cartograms, as they are called. It combats cartographic illiteracy. It fights cartophobia. It may even teach you to find your way. For that alone, it seems worthwhile.”—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times
“. . . witty examination of how and why maps lie. [The book] conveys an important message about how statistics of any kind can be manipulated. But it also communicates much of the challenge, aesthetic appeal, and sheer fun of maps. Even those who hated geography in grammar school might well find a new enthusiasm for the subject after reading Monmonier’s lively and surprising book.”—Wilson Library Bulletin
“A reading of this book will leave you much better defended against cheap atlases, shoddy journalism, unscrupulous advertisers, predatory special-interest groups, and others who may use or abuse maps at your expense.”—John Van Pelt, Christian Science Monitor
“Monmonier meets his goal admirably. . . . [His] book should be put on every map user’s ‘must read’ list. It is informative and readable . . . a big step forward in helping us to understand how maps can mislead their readers.”—Jeffrey S. Murray, Canadian Geographic
Using ChatGPT to generate sequential color schemes
Published in
11 min read
2 days ago
Here, I explore how to use ChatGPT, a text-based generative AI model, as a color suggestion system for building sequential color schemes. I do this by prompting the trained AI model for color schemes and then evaluate the recommendations. Successful results are based on the specific text phrasing used to request ChatGPT to perform these tasks. I will walk through the technical process, explain the color theory at work, and how to apply the selected color scheme to my five-step process of colorizing a data visualization, which I have highlighted in previous UX Collective and Nightingale writings. In data visualization, sequential color schemes are designed for ordering numeric information where colors progress from low to high (or vice versa).
Let’s begin by exploring some details about ChatGPT.
What is ChatGPT?
Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer or ChatGPT is a Generative Artificially Intelligent (AI) chatbot developed by OpenAI and introduced to the public on November 30, 2022. Using text-based commands, users can ask the chatbot for assistance in tasks such as creating emails, essays, and code. There are numerous reviews that describe the functionality of ChatGPT and other text-based AI tools. The basic version of ChatGPT is free to use with OpenAI offering a “Plus” version of ChatGPT for $20 a month. I show the user interface and information about ChatGPT pricing below.
Asking ChatGPT to Assist in Creating a Sequential Color Scheme:
Here, it is my objective to investigate if ChatGPT can be used to build or suggest a sequential color scheme for data visualization. In my first effort to ask the chatbot for color scheme assistance, I typed the phrase “Create a Blue Sequential color scheme image”. ChatGPT responded with “I’m a text-based AI model and I can’t create or display images directly. However, I can describe how to create a simple blue sequential color scheme image using common graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or an online tool like Canva:” and…
