Engage Mapping and Visualization

Overview

Specific Technologies

Like most things in Engage, we're using open Web technologies to create interactive visualizations. Traditionally, vector drawing and animation has been done using Flash. As the Web matures, new technologies have emerged that provide an alternative to the proprietary and largely inaccessible Flash products. Engage uses HTML 5's new Canvas element to draw all visualizations and maps, ensuring that they will work on a wide range of mobile devices, and can be made fully accessible.

We're also considering adopting the JavaScript version of Processing to provide a simple and easy way to draw rich animations on the Web. Processing is a popular and familiar graphics toolkit designed for artists, enabling them to create interactive visualizations in an easy to learn language.