Fishualization is a virtual fish tank that reflects the ‘well-being’ of knowledge workers at TNO. Each fish corresponds to one of my colleagues. The fish’s speed and swimming patterns depend on how stressed a colleague is. This is measured by looking at typing behaviour and switching between applications. The virtual fish tank was placed in our coffee corner. It was not so much a serious data visualization that would give exact insights, but merely a means to create awareness about stress at the workplace, and a discussion starter.

We used the same visualization at a conference about stress at the work place. Each of the participants in a debate had a wristband heart tracker and the heart rate was coupled at the fish’s speed.