Footprint App Again

I see that Kevin Karakotsios has made his Footprint USA environmental simulation iPad App free for a limited time only.   Worth a look.  I really like the style of his simulation based methods.  Good instructional simulation as well.  These techniques are much used in industry and university, but not well known outside.   More about the App here.

One Planet Living on a Footprint App

Long time correspondent Ken Karakotsios has posted an excellent case study for the use of his Footprint USA App.  (Free now for a limited time) I mentioned it previously and have been exploring its visualization capabilities. I have been an industrial simulation practitioner for a long time, and it is good to see the application of these methods and their mobile delivery.  The App is a great place to get an understanding of what can be done with this technology to drive simulation from complex data.  He has made a number of good updates to the tablet App since its release.  Here is his introduction, follow the blog for updates to the journey:

" ... Each year the Worldwatch Institute publishes a State of the World, which is a collection of articles by different authors. This year's version, State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?, has some fascinating and enlightening articles. This is a first in a series of blog posts relating ways in which you can use Footprint USA to further explore some of the ideas discussed in the State of the World ...  " 

New: Visual Footprint Resources App

Ken Karakotsios was the author of the remarkable SimLife genetic playground game.  He worked with us to build agent based simulation models that were used for years in the enterprise to understand product demand.  Now he has written an iPad App that can be used to understand resource usage and development.  I have had the pleasure to use it in Beta.  I particularly like its highly visual interaction and displays, which have given me ideas for visualization in my own design work.  See the Sankey diagram at right.  Likely also a good App for kids as it utilizes simulation, visualization and a timely subject. Follow along in his blog to understand its capabilities.  More examination of it will follow here.

" ... After three-plus years of research, designing, coding and testing, Footprint USA has been officially released!  

Footprint USA is an iPad app for adults and kids interested in learning more about using our planet's resources responsibly to build the future we really want. It combines tons of data with an interactive simulation to show the interrelationships among things like energy, food, land, water, and how we use our time and money.  It links the choices we make, individually and as a society, with the quality of life we get and the resulting impact on our planet. You can find it in the iTunes app store here.   You can also read more about it in my blog.

I am very grateful for all the support from my friends, family, and colleagues as you shared your ideas, time and patience to help make this a reality.  Thank you! ... " 

Fusing, Visualizing Data About How We Live

Always interesting and ground breaking Ken Karakotsios gives us  a peek into his project about fusing data and visualization.   He says that this will be coming to an iPad near you in 2012.  I believe it. We used him as a valued consultant in the agent simulation space.    " ... Through interactive visualizations you will be able to examine any place, from the smallest township to the entire nation, including where YOU live.... "