Paper prototyping..

another way i could show the facts

Information I need to use

I need to catagorise all of the information and try and figure out a way to show it in an interactive way instead of using a lot of text.

Other Infographics I found on this topic.

Information. Pros and Cons

Pro

• A pet brings happiness and joy into your life.
• A pet gives you the opportunity to share your love and caring.
• If you are living on your own a pet keeps you company.
• Animals give unconditional love - they don't care who you are, what you are or how much you earn.
• Pets make great companions for kids, helping them in times of emotional turmoil or trouble as well as educating them about nature and non human beings.
• Kids learn how to be more understanding, patient and responsible in their actions when they grow up with a pet.

Con

• Owning a pet means being responsible for another being who depends fully on his caretaker. This responsibility may be experienced as a burden at times.
• If you lead a very busy life being responsible for the physical as well as the emotional needs of a pet maybe too much to muster.
• Who is going to look after your pet when you go on holidays or, heaven forbid, if you have to go to hospital?
• Animals have physical needs just as we do. They need to eat and get rid of waste material. This means that you will have to put up with certain smells in your house, no matter how clean you keep your pet. If you are very house proud or maybe even a bit compulsive when it comes to bacteria, if you like a spotless place to live in, animal hair and dander might not be for you.
• Keeping a pet may be quite expensive. You need money to feed the animal and to provide healthcare. Depending on the species this may amount to a considerable sum each month.
• I know of many good hearted people who underestimated this important factor only to find themselves in serious debt after the illness of their beloved animal. Just imagine the heartbreak of having a pet put to sleep just because you could not find the money to pay for necessary surgery or treatment!

Even so there are many animals on the market which are suitable for all different life styles we must never forget that animals are sentient beings who fully depend on their people.

If in the end you do decide to get an animal companion, make sure to pick a healthy specimen in good condition, don' get carried away by his sweet looks and if in doubt, ask your veterinarian.

Remember: A pet is for life!

Patience,love and knowledge are key when it comes to keeping pets. You may have many questions of How To and Why when it comes to your dog, his training, his health, his psychology and behaviour. To help you create the life of your dreams for yourself and your pet I would like to invite you to visit http://www.dogsandhappiness.com because there you will find insights, information and help not only for dogs. From Annelie Becher, expert at creating positive change for animals and their people

http://ezinearticles.com/?Having-a-Pet---The-Pros-and-Cons&id=5421196

Information. Nz Stastics.

NZ Survey Reveals A Nation Of Pet Owners And Animal Lovers

Aug 15, 2011

A groundbreaking survey, released this week, places the New Zealand companion animal population at approximately 5 million, compared to a mere 4.4 million for humans.

The survey, published by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) of which WSPA NZ is a part of, shows 68% of New Zealand households own at least one pet, a higher percentage than in any comparable country.

The survey also carries a clear message for NZ politicians and lawmakers, by pointing out that 43% of our pet-loving nation thinks animal welfare and protection should receive more attention.

New Zealanders are also revealed as the world’s biggest cat owners, with a feline population of 1.419 million. 

According to the survey 28% of New Zealand households own a cat and a further 20% of households own two or more. These figures contrast with Australia’s, where a total of only 23% of households are cat-owning.

Conversely, New Zealand’s 29% of dog-owning homes compares to 36% in Australia. Even so, our canine population stands at an impressive 700,000.

But dogs and cats are not the only companion animals to have found their way into Kiwi homes and hearts. In addition to 88,000 rabbits and 527,000 birds, we’ve made houseroom for 1.678 million fish, making them our most populous companion species. 

The NZCAC survey was conducted online with a representative sample of 1,570 adults from across New Zealand between 7th and 11th April 2011.  The survey also draws on data from a range of sources, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.     
   
Bridget Vercoe, Country Manager at WSPA New Zealand explains the significance of this survey: 
 “This survey is highly significant for WSPA NZ, as it gives us a factual understanding of just how important companion animals are to New Zealanders. It not only shows why we acquire companion animals, but also how important it is to have them in our lives and homes.

“By also comparing our co-existence with companion animals, to similar countries around the world, this survey undoubtedly helps WSPA NZ understand the level of local importance Kiwis place on animal welfare. Thus assisting us in our global vision of a world where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends”.

According to the survey, New Zealanders spend $1,583.8 million a year on their companion animals, with food expenditure of $766 million representing the largest cost item, followed by $358 million for veterinary services and $166 million on healthcare products.

Cats turn out to be less expensive to keep than dogs, with 48% of all companion animal expenditure going on the nation’s canines and only 43% on its far more numerous felines.   

The New Zealand Companion Animal Council is an organisation that links welfare bodies, veterinarians, academic researchers, animal control agencies, breeder organisations and others involved with companion animals.

A key NZCAC focus is on understanding, promoting and celebrating the human-animal bond and the benefits of companion animal ownership. The survey is expected to provide a benchmark for further research and a reference source for policy makers and others involved with animals.

Information.

http://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-pets-improve-your-health

27 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health

Pets Are Natural Mood Enhancers

It only takes a few minutes with a dog or cat or watching fish swim to feel less anxious and less stressed. Your body actually goes through physical changes in that time that make a difference in your mood. The level of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered. And the production of serotonin, a chemical associated with well-being, is increased. Reducing stress saves your body wear and tear.

Keep Blood Pressure in Check

You still have to watch your weight and exercise. But having a pet can help you manage your blood pressure. In one study of 240 married couples, pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower heart rates during rest than people who did not own a pet. That held true whether they were at rest or undergoing stress tests. Another study showed that children with hypertension lowered their blood pressure while petting their dog.

Help for Lowering Cholesterol

To manage cholesterol, doctors still recommend that you follow guidelines regarding diet, exercise, and medication. But owning a pet has the potential of making it easier to avoid the dangers of cholesterol. Researchers have noted lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people who own pets compared to people who don't. However, this could be attributed to lifestyle factors of pet owners

Cats and Dogs Good for the Heart

Research has shown the long-term benefits of owning a cat include protection for your heart. Over the 20 years of one study, people who never owned a cat were 40% more likely to die of a heart attack than those who had. Another study showed that dog owners had a significantly better survival rate one year after a heart attack. Overall, pet owners have a lower risk of dying from any cardiac disease, including heart failure.

Pet an Animal to Fight Depression

Therapists have been known to prescribe a pet as a way of dealing with and recovering from depression. No one loves you more unconditionally than your pet. And a pet will listen to you talk for as long as you want to talk. Petting a cat or dog has a calming effect. And taking care of a pet -- walking with it, grooming it, playing with it -- takes you out of yourself and helps you feel better about the way you spend your time.

Better Physical Fitness

People who own dogs tend to be more physically active and less obese than people who don't. Taking your dog for a daily 30-minute walk will keep you moving and ensure that you meet the minimum recommendations for healthy physical activity. Two 15-minute walks, one in the morning and one in the evening, will do the same thing. And after that, just playing fetch in the back yard with your dog will earn you healthful dividends

Make Your Pet an Exercise Buddy

If you exercise with your pet, you'll both benefit. Shine a flashlight on the wall or wave a string while you do a step aerobics routine. Your cat will get a healthy workout chasing the light, and you'll be thoroughly entertained. And nationwide, there are yoga classes for people and their dogs, called doga. Call your local gym or ask your vet if there are similar programs in your area.

Fewer Strokes Among Cat Owners

Researchers aren't sure why. But cat owners have fewer strokes than people who don't own cats. It's partly due to the effects owning a pet can have on a person's circulation. But researchers speculate that cats may have a more calming effect on their owners than other animals do. It may also have something to do with the personality of a cat owner. Cats often become the focus of their owner's interest, which diverts them from other stressful worries.

More Interaction, Less Isolation

One key to a healthy mind is staying engaged with others. And pet owners have a tendency to want to talk with other pet owners. A dog is a conversation waiting to happen. People, especially other people with dogs, will stop and talk with you when they see you walking your pet. Visiting a dog park lets you socialize with other owners while your dog socializes with their dogs.

Fewer Allergies, Stronger Immunity

Researchers have found that when children grow up in a home with a dog or cat they are less likely to develop allergies. The same is true for kids who live on a farm with large animals. In addition, higher levels of certain immune system chemicals show a stronger immune system, which will help keep them healthy as they get older.

Cats and Asthma Prevention

It doesn't seem to make sense. Pet allergies are one of the most common triggers of asthma. But researchers have studied the effects of having cats in the homes of infants at risk for asthma. What they found was that those children were significantly less likely to develop asthma as they got older. There's one exception. Children whose mothers have a cat allergy are three times more likely to develop asthma after early exposure to cats.

Snack Alarm

For people with diabetes, a sudden drop in the level of blood glucose can be very serious. Some dogs can alert their owner to a dangerous drop before it actually happens. They may be responding to chemical changes in the body that give off a scent. The alarm gives the owner time to eat a snack to avoid the emergency. About one in three dogs living with people with diabetes have this ability. Dogs for Diabetics is training more dogs to help more people.

Working With a Counselor

Some mental health therapists use a dog in therapy. A dog in the office may help someone be more comfortable. But that's not all. A remark to or about a dog may show what's really on someone's mind. One therapist tells about a couple in his office who started arguing. The dog, which usually just slept during the session, got up and wanted out. He used that to help the couple see how their fighting affected others, especially their children.

Partners in Better Cancer Care

Cats and dogs both get cancer, and both benefit from research on human cancer. But more and more the opposite is also true. Humans are benefiting from research on pet cancers. Dogs and cats can get the same kinds of cancers humans do. For example, studies of prostate cancer in dogs have led to a better understanding of how it develops in older men. And preventing cancer in pets may lead to new prevention strategies for their human owners.

Overcoming the Limitations of ADHD

Kids with ADHD can benefit from working with and keeping a pet. Taking charge of the jobs on a pet care schedule helps a child learn to plan and be responsible. Pets need to play, and playing with a pet is an great way to release excess energy. That means an easier time falling asleep at night. And because the bond between a pet and a child is unconditional love, pets help children with ADHD learn about self-esteem.

Autism: Addressing the Senses

Sensory issues are common among children with autism. Sensory integration activities are designed to help them get used to the way something feels against their skin. Or it may be how they react to certain smells or sounds. Dogs and horses have both sometimes been used in these activities. The children usually find it calming to work with animals. And animals easily hold the attention of children with autism.

Want Stronger Bones? Walk the Dog

Strong bones are your best defense against osteoporosis and painful fractures. Walking your dog helps. It's a weight-bearing exercise that strengthens your bones and the muscles around them. It also lets you spend time in the sun, which provides vitamin D. If you have osteoporosis, be sure you guard against falls. Use a short leash that won't get tangled. And don't walk a dog that is liable to jump on you and make you lose your balance.

Stretching With the Cat

If you have arthritis, you know its important to stretch. You also know it can be hard to know when you're stretching enough. Cat owners may want to learn from their cat. Watch how many times she stretches every day, and when she does, you do it too. If you can, get down on the floor and go through the same motions. If you can't get on the floor, sit on a chair and follow along by stretching your upper body.

Managing Arthritis Together

If your dog has arthritis, you can use the effort to manage his to help manage yours. When you make an appointment at the vet, also call and make your own doctor's appointment. Regular exercise is important for both of you, so walk with your dog. Keep your medicine in the same place you keep the dog's. That way you'll see it when you get his. And if you can, coordinate taking your medicines at the same time you give him his medicine.

Getting Back in the Saddle

Some rehab programs for stroke patients use horses to help with recovery. Often, people who have had strokes start riding with someone walking alongside them as someone else leads the horse. Horseback riding gives stretching exercise, which is especially good if one side has been made weaker. It also helps the person regain balance and build core strength.

Relief From RA

People with rheumatoid arthritis benefit from movements like walking and throwing a Frisbee with their pet. And pets give you a distraction that can help take your thoughts off of your own condition. But perhaps the best help comes from those dogs or cats that seem to be super sensitive to people who aren’t feeling well. Sometimes just their presence can make you feel better.

Soothing Heat for Chronic Pain

A Mexican hairless dog called a Xolo is known for generating intense body heat. An organization called Paws for Comfort trains Xolos to be service dogs for people with fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain that respond to heat. People get relief just by placing their hurting limbs against the dog's body or lying up next to it. Some dogs have even been trained to ride around wrapped around the neck of a person with chronic neck pain.

Seizure Dogs

A "seizure dog" is one that has been specially trained to live and work with people who have epilepsy. Some are trained to bark and alert the parents when a child is having a seizure outside or in another room. Some lie next to a person having a seizure to prevent injury (as seen in this demonstration). And some work has been done training dogs to warn before a seizure occurs. This gives the person time to lie down or move away from a dangerous place such as a hot stove.

Staying Independent

Specially trained dogs can perform tasks that let people with Parkinson's disease maintain their independence. They can pick up dropped items or fetch requested ones. They can provide balance support, open and close doors, and turn lights on with their paws. They can also sense when someone with Parkinson's is "freezing" and touch the foot to let the person keep walking. Groups like Pet Partners can help you find a good service dog.

A Better Quality of Life

Visits from therapy dogs help patients recovering from devastating illness or an event such as a stroke. Some dogs are trained to understand a range of commands which lets them help people with aphasia (a language disorder common in older adults, particularly those who’ve had a stroke) feel good when they see the dog understands them. And, petting or scratching a dog can help a patient rebuild strength while recovering from a stroke or other illness. It also creates a feeling of calm.

A Calming Presence

People with AIDS are less likely to be depressed if they own a pet, especially if they're strongly attached. And with an animal in the home, people with Alzheimer's have fewer anxious outbursts. The animal also helps the caregivers feel less burdened. Cats seem to be particularly helpful since they require less care than dogs.

Animal Assisted Therapies

Some studies are being done on bringing specially trained animals into clinical settings, which is happening in more and more hospitals and nursing homes. One of the biggest advantages of letting patients interact with animals in such places appears to be improved mood and reduced anxiety.

Information.

I am going to base my website around this information, along with other information I find on this topic.

Final Idea

I narrowed it down to two ideas for my final infographic which were 'what happens in an internet minute' and 'are pets good for your health'. I have decided to finalize the 'are pets good for your health' idea because I think there is so much variation of information on that topic and also I think it would work better as an interactive site because I couldnt really see how I was going to make enough interaction on the 'what happens in an internet minute' subject.

Link..

http://awesome.good.is.s3.amazonaws.com/transparency/web/1204/your-daily-dose-of-water/flash.html

The link to the water usage info graphic below.

Thinking

I would like to use a information that is based on numbers and percentages on a certain topic, like the ones shown below, rather than 'how to make something' or a site that is based on creating sounds, etc., because I feel like numbers about things like 'what happens in an internet minute' are more interesting and engaging.

I think it would be a good idea to use information on my website that is relevant to my life and things I use regularly, such as Apple products or the internet. This could be things like the Apple info graphic seen earlier in my workbook, or information like this...

I also think that things like this would be cool to do an info graphic website on because they are generally quite interesting numbers...

Research...

Here are some images of info graphics found on www.coolhomepages.com that are not animated, but I think the facts used in them are really interesting. I could potentially use these for my info graphic website.

Research...

These are screen shots taken from an info graphic on the website www.good.is. It is about the usage of water in america which some would say was a bit of a boring topic but this info graphic definitely makes the facts more interesting and shocking. as you go through, facts pop up when you hover over some of the images, and you can click on the things through out each part of the day that you use so you can calculate roughly the amount of water you use in a day. i think this is a cool way of showing information that could potentially be boring.
I also like how they have used some actual photos and then some graphic images to create this info graphic. the simplicity of the info graphic is an effective style to use.

Researching Infographic sites

These are screenshots taken from the site www.incredibox.com, where you pick a sound or beat for each of the people to make and it ends up making your own music. I think this is a great idea - I loved it and ended up spending half an hour on it - its a good was for people to interact with the site.

This website www.recordtripping.com is also a music based infographic site where you use the track pad to spin a record and make your own sounds. I dont think there is as much user interaction as the incredibox site on this website but I think it is still a good concept. There seems to be a lot of music infographic sites.

www.syfy.com has minimal user interaction but has amazing graphics. I really like the way it moves through all of the different spaces smoothly.