4-H is Using AR to Help Answer What is Data? AR for Data Visualization.

4-H asked Groove Jones to help them with a STEM experience geared towards students in grades 6-12 and adults learning computing basics.  The goal was to help students and adult learners understand the basic building blocks of data. The modern world runs on data.

But what is Data? It is a series of ones and zeros that influence much of what we do in our lives. These ones and zeros make up Bits and Bytes, which in turn make up the building blocks of a photo, video, video game, or mobile app.

Why AR?

AR is perfect for displaying information in a three-dimensional way. It visualizes information in a unique way so we understand it. Groove Jones determined AR would be perfect for displaying the various blocks of data from a Bit to a Gigabyte, in order to show how they relate to each other and transform from one measurement to the next.

What is Data – A Visual Demonstration using AR

bit (b) to Byte (B)

• The smallest unit of data
• A single one (1) or zero (0)
• Enough data for a single Yes or No
• By adding eight (8) bits you create a Byte (B)
• Two (2) bytes are enough data for any keyboard character

Byte (B) to Kilobyte (KB)

• Made up of 1,024 bytes, or 8,192 bits
• Enough data for half a page of text

Kilobyte (KB) to Megabyte (MB)

• Made up of 1,024 kilobytes (over 1m bytes)
• Enough data for a high-resolution photo or some PDF documents

Megabyte (MB) to a Gigabit (Gb)

• Made up of 128 Megabytes
• There is a big difference between bits and bytes
• Data plans are often sold as Mb or Gb, not MB or GB

Gigabit (Gb) to a Gigabyte (GB)

• Made up of 8 Gigabits (1,024 Megabytes)
• Enough data for a streaming movie

Why WebAR?

We utilized WebAR because it is one of the easiest ways to launch an AR experience. No App needed. Everyone’s phone can access it and we wanted everyone in on the action. We even included the ability to take photos of your data exploration so you can share them with your friends on your favorite social platform.

Check out the Data AR experience here – https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/internet-basics/

What is 4-H

4‑H is a community for all kids. 4‑H believes in the power of young people. 4‑H is delivered by Cooperative Extension — a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. For more than 100 years, 4‑H has welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better.

Through life-changing 4‑H programs, nearly six million kids and teens have taken on critical societal issues, such as addressing community health inequities, engaging in civil discourse, and advocating for equity and inclusion for all. For more information about 4-H visit https://4-h.org