Today, creating a data visualization that'll grab (and hold) the attention of thousands is a cinch, considering that even the smallest of screens comes equipped with state-of-the-art software and editing capabilities. In the '60s and '70s, not so much. John Whitney, the late founder of Motion Graphics Incorporated, was a man against the technological odds. Even constrained by less-than-desirable computer systems (by today's standards), he created what could be considered an improvement on today's iTunes visualizers.

Whitney's work has been compiled into multiple demo reels of sorts. Best to full-screen these, even with the grainy quality—it just adds an extra layer of trippy texture:

After seeing the videos and photos, it's not hard to believe that Whitney's creations were inspirational to many visual designers out there—including the makers of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Check out more of Whitney's work on Visual Melt.

Via Yahoo Tech