I am interested in use of data visualization of information that has an endpoint of simple dynamic well known picture/image.  Every item in the picture is linked to the data.  
 
  Imagine a picture of a harbor with boats, calm water, clear sky,etc..  (Still looking for the specific tech talk)
 Every distinct visual category in the picture should have a distinct data link.  

I would model it in the same way as Protovis http://vis.stanford.edu/protovis/ But with pictures linked to the data.

Some links: Hans Rosling shows the best stats you've ever seen http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_y...

Digital Arts@Google: W. Bradford Paley, Martin Wattenberg, and Fernanda Viegas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRrmE7BFdJs&feature=playe...

http://www.slideshare.net/fichter/data-20-harnessing-new-dat...