obama-meter

Very basic description: (before it becomes more complex!)1. Pie chart (or speed meter?) looking 'meter' which indicates 'Saving' and 'Spending' of average American household.

2. Should be a desktop or portal (igoogle, Myyahoo, MSN etc) gadget, widget.

Why?1: In very very broad stroke, some (economic, financial and cultural and political) experts say Oct-Nov 2008, or some have been pointing out even before that 'Americans need to save more and spend less.' So let's take that bluntly or simply (or straightforwardly).

Why?1.1: Add to that basic idea - that let's think (or imagine) that we will make positive shift and transition towards 'more saving' American way of living. Then that should be trackable...thus the idea for this (desktop/portal)widget!

Problem/Obstacle1. Now in mid-late November 2008, American and global economy is basically in catastrophic fall, and there are many structural issues and much more nuanced coordination will take place to first get out of this downward spiral. In that, simplistic representation of 'saving and spending' will not be really possible or meaningful, nor helpful.

Problem/Obstacle1. But in the end, in say 3 years, America cannot recover based on 'depending on spending'. It can't. It can't recover based on spending based on (foreign) borrowing or credit or debt. So there is first complication but we need to keep focus on this simple goal of 'we got to save more'. This meter is just a meter. And around it we aim to create meaningful stuff - to help, steer American household out of decades-old, built-up habit of spending and borrowing, and making it landing on 'sound and secure saving' - and we will see what's necessary and what has to happen to make that happen.

Aim: Meter, and more comprehensive understanding and sense of economy, household, among American people (and international audience, etc.) Screens of PC, Web contents, need to help transforming American people's economic habits, sophistication and culture.

November 21, 2008

Next Steps

Thing is Intuit (TurboTax, Quicken) company may have... interest or similar tool already?(Software to help 'Saving' is there. but...) Check it is technically (already) how much possible or not. How much of (meaningful, usable, relevant) statistic numbers (indexes) are available - or not - on the Web. And how that can be modeled with what language. Canvas? SVG? ML? (What's used normally on those stock charts etc) Make some visual mock. List relevant experts. Relevant and those who might be helpful on this idea. List orgs, agencies who might be helpful on this idea. Formulate, prepare meaningful initial contact packet. (or can be approached in more light-weight way?) Post to...programmers forum etc? Local meeting in NYC area? (Drupal?) and see how it goes?... ---

Pie chart visualization tool to check and track positive (and negative) spending (and saving etc) pattern change in (average, etc) American household budgeting and finance (or lack of them) quarterly, half-yearly, etc.

This post is to mark its launching date with Nov 4th 2008 – the day probably Barack Obama will become the 44th American president.

Basic purpose, possible variations, applications of the idea/inspiration will soon follow.

Tags

  utility web household visualization obama graphics widget

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