They collect data from 65 sites around the planet which is then "interpreted", resulting in the dot. The colors have meaning.
| Blue signifies small network variance, suggestive of deeply shared, internally motivated group focus. The index is above 95%. |
| Aqua signifies small network variance, probably chance fluctuation. The index is between 90% and 95%. |
| Green signifies normally random network variance. This is average or expected behavior. The index is between 40% and 90%. |
| Yellow signifies slightly increased network variance. Probably chance fluctuation. The index is between 10% and 40%. |
| Rust signifies strongly increased network variance. May be chance fluctuation, with the index between 5% and 10%. |
| Red means significantly large network variance. Suggests broadly shared coherence of thought and emotion. The index is less than 5%. |
So, for example, just before the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami . . . the data was interpreted as a blood-red dot. They even "picked up" on the global outpouring of emotion during the funeral of Princess Diana.
Read more at the Global Consciousness Project web site.