http://mcfunley.com/whom-the-gods-would-destroy-they-first-g...
> Real-time web analytics is a seductive concept. It appeals to our desire for instant gratification. But the truth is that there are very few product decisions that can be made in real time, if there are any at all. Analysis is difficult enough already, without attempting to do it at speed.
In this case, the lack of context isn't just from not having a ready-comparison across timeframes...but what does it mean when "Graffiti Removed" peaks two weeks ago, and then flattens to a low as of today? Is it because sanitation crews aren't working as hard? Or is it because they've been working so hard -- and so have the cops -- that there's now much less graffiti to clean up?
Even with the sparse data here, I feel that there's a risk of a kind of "data overload"...in that nearly all of the data here is irrelevant without context...is it really more efficient for the mayor to glance at the dashboard every once in awhile and reflexively shout to his aides, "WTF is up with our potholes, check it out!"