Montreal Tech Watch

FFunction, a studio specializing in data visualization and user interfaces, has released one of its works named ExpenseVisualizer. The tool was made in association with Visible Government, with the goal of exposing expenses made by various federal agencies and organizations. It’s now publicly available, in an effort to promote transparency by more accessible data.

The initiative is interesting in many ways. Recently, we’ve seen MontréalOuvert advocating accessible data from the city of Montréal. Visible Government has been also pushing on this level for many years. I see ExpenseVisualizer as yet another step for more government accountability, more accessible information which means ultimately easier involvement of citizens, all thanks to technology. Will we see one day a e-government, with direct participation thanks to real-time and easy-to-understand data?

The technology behind ExpenseVisualizer is also interesting. It was built expressly for this project, featuring a realtime filtering interface, allowing quick comparisons between different organizations and also different positions. It’s obvious there was lots of creative work behind the user interface. I imagine original data is pages and pages of indigestible excel-like columns, but FFunction managed to present lots of information in one page, easy enough for anyone (and not just a statician :-) to study and make a few conclusions from the tool.

Will this new tool used widely by the public? I hope so, it’s at a new crossroad between new technologies and politics. Since it doesn’t have an interactive “web2.0″ interface where people can discuss and interact with the organizations, it would need though promotion amongst various political parties, NGOs, community organizations; and it’s a work that would need probably more time than building this tool.

Have a look at FFunction’s new expensevisualizer!