CNN.com and Stamen Design have launched “Home and Away” [cnn.com], an impressive interactive data visualization that allows users to learn about and pay tribute to more than 6,000 fallen troops from more than 20 countries. Evolving from 2 separate lists of casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq, Home and Away tells the story of where and how the lives of these troops began and ended. The website also allows for personal memories to be continually added by family and friends.
While tackling the many issues involved when dealing with an extremely sensitive dataset, this project attempts to exploit the power of data visualization to engage a wide audience and tell compelling and moving stories, here as an exceptional way to honor the sacrifice every single one of the deceased soldiers made.
Users can search for casualties across several different criteria, including last name, age hometown, location of death and date of death. More detail about the life of each casualty is featured on a personal memorial page, as well as memories from family and friends shared through iReport, CNN’s user-generated news community.
More information is also available at Presslift.
Thnkx Erica!