Choosing Tools to Visualize Data - Data Points: Visualization That Means Something - page 85

same functionality—and then some. Modest Maps provides only the basics
of mapping, but Polymaps has some built-in features such as choropleths
(Figure 3-26) and bubbles.

FIGurE 3-26 Choropleth map showing unemployment, implemented in Polymaps

Because it's JavaScript, it does feel more lightweight (because it requires
less code), and it works in modern browsers. Polymaps uses Scalable
Vector Graphics (SVG) to display data, so it doesn't work in the old versions
of Internet explorer, but most people are up-to-date. As a reference, only
about 5 percent of FlowingData visitors use a browser that's too old, and I
suspect that percentage will approach zero soon.

My favorite plus of a mapping library in JavaScript is that all the code runs
native in the browser. You don't have to do any compiling or Flash exports,
which makes it easier to get things running and to make updates later.

useFuL poLymaps resource

a

Polymaps ( http://polymaps.org/ )