October 22nd: Ptolemy's Data Analysis

 
Lots of yellow-brown leaves, on thin branches, against a blue sky. Across the image in pale blue: #DRABBLETOBER
 

Day 22 of my 2023 drabble-a-day challenge! Here is today’s drabble…


Ptolemy's Data Analysis

"Do we have the projections for the coming year?"

The meeting looked expectant. Shaun sighed, and put up his presentation.

He talked through his assumptions and methodology, explained the variance and the error bars, showed the raw data. He was aware that no-one was listening. They wanted a slide with a single, easy-to-understand curve and he was sick of explaining that the world just wasn't like that.

Ah, well. They wanted simple. He hit the button to run the animation.

Outliers faded away, key points glowed gold, and a beautiful outline flowed around them.

"I call this one Galloping Reindeer."


As someone who sometimes has to present data at work, I feel for Shaun. I really do.