Visualization of Statistics in Virtual Reality
The Challenge
Computers often function merely as typewriters for the output of info in 2D. Printed diagrams show the consequences. To use it some results are often shown in a different factor. The outcome is a falsified representation and limited comparability with the results, which are presented in the right factor. Using a virtual reality avatar from Fraunhofer’s IGD’s AVALON Studio, one can operate, inspect and thus physically experience statistics in the virtual reality by means of an avatar.
The Solution
Visualization of statistics in virtual reality offers new possibilities for the representation of statistics. One can operate, inspect and thus physically experience them in the virtual reality by means of an avatar. The user can operate and navigate different layers with different topics by means of a gamepad and a HMD. Sensors of approximation and touch note the position and the line of sight of the user avatar and induce the representation of dynamic information. The main component of the project is a X3D scene realized in the open environment AVALON of Fraunhofer IGD. Using a virtual reality avatar from AVALON, one can operate, inspect and thus physically experience statistics in the virtual reality by means of an avatar.
Concept
This project offers new possibilities for the representation of statistics. One can operate, inspect and thus physically experience them in the virtual reality by means of an avatar.
Virtual Reality is the representation and at the same time perception of reality and its physical properties in an interactive surrounding - computer-generated in real time. In the virtual reality rooms of infinite size can be generated.
Quotation
“A room should not be fixed, should not create a static mood, but should lend itself to change so that its occupants may play upon it as they would upon a piano”
Richard Buckminster Fuller, 1929
Studies
The 21st century’s main medium - the computer - is in most of the cases not used up to its potential. It often functions as a digital typewriter for the output of static information in a two-dimensional static space.
Interface
For the navigation and orientation of the user avatar in the virtual space two input devices are used. To determine the avatar’s position in the x- and z-direction the game pad is put onto the interface that is well known to many users. Additionally, one can head for different positions in the space by pressing the number buttons.
To achieve an orientation in space that is as close as possible to a real human body, the field of vision of the user avatar is controlled independently of its position.
This can be achieved by means of a visor that measures the rotation of the human head in the x- and y- axis through its position in the geomagnetic fields. In addition, the visor functions as an output device that shows the user the field of vision of his avatar.
Functionality
The virtual statistic space consists of different layers with different topics. The user can operate and navigate these layers by means of two interface devices. Each layer is subdivided into five areas that examine the different topics in different intensity. Sensors of approximation and touch note the position and the line of sight of the user avatar and induce the representation of dynamic information.
Technology
The main component of the project is an X3D scene - realized in the open environment INSTANT - the former AVALON environment. It contains all static objects, those that can become dynamic, and sensors.
The user gives numeric results to a JavaScript by means of a visor’s backend and a game pad. These are transferred to the angle of vision and the position of the avatar in the scene. The avatar thus makes the scene dynamic. This happens either by connecting sensors with actions within the scene or by connecting sensors with functions of the scripts.
The result is put out via the visor. Thus, the user experiences his input and the output of a scene at the same time.
Outlook
Visualization Of Statistics in Virtual Reality participates in a media-didactic competition held by the ministries of research of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The goal is to develop useful virtual reality applications for didactic fields which are based on the experiences of the project.
More info from Jan Peter:
Visualization of statistics in virtual reality is a diploma thesis (2006) at the department of design at the FHWS.
Many thanks to Prof. Erich Schoels (FHWS), Prof. Dr. Holger Hoehn (Biozentrum university of Wuerzburg), Michael Zoellner, Johannes Behr, Patrick Daehne (Fraunhofer IGD in Darmstadt) and Dr. Wolfgang Feichtinger (Biozentrum university of Wuerzburg).
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