Stream: Woodcote
Time: 15:30 - 16:15
Statistics can be used (and abused) to tell almost any story you want. That’s why we often hear about “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Numbers may not lie, but graphs can start rumors. Charts can use accurate data, honest math, and trusted tools - and still send smart people chasing the wrong problem. This session looks at how graphs can accidentally mislead through ordinary choices in presentation, context, and interpretation - because sometimes graphs are not wrong but can still send the audience astray.
There is currently no attachment for (Accidentally) Misleading Statistics: When Good Graphs Tell Bad Lies
I am a mainframe capacity planner and performance analyst who drifted into that as a full-time job as opposed to it being one of many hats I wore as a small shop systems programmer. I have been a systems programmer since 1984, when my first PC (Personal, not Portable, Computer) was an IBM 4341 mainframe. While I have concentrated on z/OS, I started in VSE (now zVSE), VM (now zVM) and OS/VS1 (one of the predecessors to MVS). I have presented at conferences over the years on various systems, capacity and performance topics and enjoy all things mainframe. I like to remind people that the answer to any question you don't ask is always "No." That means I like to question things and provide a few answers when I can.
I work on open source projects around software tooling platforms. My current project is Zowe, which is part of the Linux Foundation and Open Mainframe Project where I am part of the leadership committee and an ambassador. Prior to Zowe I worked on Eclipse tooling and before that Java 2 Standard Edition. I enjoy astronomy, running, biking, piano, and in my spare time helping bring open source tooling to the mainframe computing platform for a new generation of Z heads.
Click here to give some Feedback so we can make it even better next year!