The guys over at Chartr use Google Trends to gather up lovely data for us all to look at. A LOT of it is very interesting. At a time like this where we are all in quarantine, what better time to look at the data. So they checked out Google trends to map out ways we’re living differently.

First of all, a lot of us are googling ‘What is Zoom’. Why is this important? Well a few months ago Zoom only had 10 million users. Now? Well, there’s over 200 million users.

“Bars Near Me” has been replaced with “Wine Delivery”. Those who are looking for puzzles may be digging out old copies of the sims.

Furthermore “Gym Membership” search queries has been replaced by “Online Yoga”. While no one is searching for “Hot Outfit For A Date” and “Weekend Getaway” anymore.

Also, no one is searching for “Bus or Train Timetables”, people are searching for “Buy A Desk”, but not “Buy a Suitcase”. While people searching on “How To Watch Harry Potter”

Harry Potter is childhood nostalgia and comfort. Therefore it makes sense as to why people are searching for Harry Potter and are re-watching them during quarantine.

Quarantine Potter

Chartr have plotted the number of mentions of Harry Potter books against the screen time of those characters, across all 8 movies. This is so they can see which of the characters were relatively promoted during the transition period from book to screen.

The results showed that the film adaptations of the books, did a pretty good jon. As most of the main characters were promoted well. This suggests that the producers did stick faithfully to the books. However, this could be down to how closely JK Rowling worked on the makings of the films.

Screen Time

However, some characters did in fact do better! Lucius Malfoy was mentioned 249 times. Which would equate to 6 minutes of screen time. Yet he got more than 15 minutes. Narcissa also got more screen time. Though many of the Weasley family, Bill, Percy and Molly got less screen time.

The above chart shows 100 most mentioned characters that got at least 1 minute of screen time. Though some didn’t make it into the films at all! For example Ludo Bagman got 250 mentions in the books. Though he never made it into the movies. Bagman was the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Peeves the Ghost, Winky the crouch family elf or Charlie Weasley didn’t make the cut either.

Mad Eye Moody also got hit hard. Though his screen time may be attributed to Barty Crouch Jr who pretended to be him in the Goblet of Fire.

Overall though the data suggests a very good adaptation of the books, and the screen did well to portray the book. Which is good considering the over 4200 pages of source material.

Technology has served us well in quarantine too. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown an interesting trend in the US over the last 45 years.

Things produced in the US per hour (Productivity) has gone up 120% since 1970. While the compensation of workers has gone up by little over 50%. Why aren’t they closer together like before 1975?

Well, it could be attributed to globalisation, bargaining power, minimum wages, public policy and legislation all impact how wages are determined.

Quarantine Robots

Technology is getting better and better. More and more people are being replaced by technology. Which on the surface of things is a good thing. A factory worker could go do what he/she wants. The new car people want to buy is cheaper as it was made by a robot, which works more productively and up to 24 hours a day.

However, if retraining is difficult or there isn’t as much competition, the company will reap all the benefits. Which in turn will result in the transfer of income from labour to capital owners. While studies suggest consistently that technological change decouples wages from productivity.

The chart is not intended to show a political point but to stimulate debate when many jobs which are deemed lower skill are absolutely essential to our survival.

While a study from McKinsey suggests that “about half of all the activities people are paid to do in the world’s workforce could potentially be automated by adapting currently demonstrated technologies”. Automation is coming, and if we manage it properly it could be wonderful for millions of people.

(Chartr)

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