Check out zipdecode, a small project by Ben Fry. Make sure that you click the map to activate the application. Then start typing in a zipcode of interest. In the picture to the right, I have entered “2”. The dots in white are the zipcodes that start with a 2.

This project began a very short sketch (a few hours) that I created because I was curious about how the numbering works for zip codes in the states.

The tool used for the visualization is Processing.

Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and sound. It is used by students, artists, designers, architects, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook and professional production tool. Processing is developed by artists and designers as an alternative to proprietary software tools in the same domain.

I think this project is a very clear example of meeting a specific clear purpose in a way that achieves its objectives. Let me know what you think.

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