kaartidelt

Kaartidelt is a term used in information design to describe a method for analyzing change in card-based data by focusing on deltas between consecutive states. The name blends Estonian roots, with kaart meaning card, and a delta-based idea of change.

Origin and concept: Kaartidelt emerged in theoretical discussions of data visualization and user interface history as a way to study how collections of cards evolve over time. It treats each card as a discrete element that can persist, disappear, or change attributes across snapshots, and it emphasizes the differences between states rather than their absolute values.

Method: The approach involves collecting successive snapshots of a card deck at fixed intervals. Each card is identified across snapshots, and changes are encoded as deltas—such as additions, removals, or attribute updates. A delta map or visualization then aggregates these changes to reveal evolving patterns, acceleration points, or recurring transition paths. Analysts may apply clustering or sequence analysis to identify common evolution archetypes.

Applications: Kaartidelt is used to study dynamic card-based systems such as Kanban boards, task management apps, digital archives, and narrative interfaces where items are represented as cards. It helps designers understand how workflows fluctuate, which cards repeatedly move between states, and how priorities or metadata shift over time.

Example: In a Kanban workflow, kaartidelt highlights cards that repeatedly migrate between columns and flags those that are added or removed from the board, providing a compact view of process dynamics.

See also: data visualization, delta encoding, Kanban, UI history.