Building a clean timeline using Vertical Timeline, a collaboration between Balance Media and WYNC

Published 2012-06-10

I finally found some time to play with Balance Media’s Vertical Timeline presentation framework, and I have to say that adding your own events to a spreadsheet and watching them come alibe is as much fun as viewing timelines others have built.

I guess because it’s that easy?

Timeline info and photos from presentation created by Jason Klein and Laura Sparks for the Wisconsin State Journal.

Vertical Timeline uses a series of javascript libraries to do what it does – remember Tabletop.js – but most of all, it stays out of the way and allows you to create great looking timelines with a simple spreadsheet.

John Keefe of WNYC has a post outlining the thinking behind Vertical Timeline, so read that and then have a go at it.