Events

Title:
StudioV: A work space for hand-crafting Visualizations of Volume data in Virtual reality

Abstract:
In this talk, I present StudioV: a hands-on user interface for creating new 3D data visualizations in virtual reality. In this project, the first goal is to put the challenging process of creating visualizations of complex scientific data in the hands of artists and other visual experts with traditional, non-technical training. The second goal is to facilitate creativity and serendipity in visualization design, inspired by the techniques artists employ with traditional artistic media, while maintaining the scientific integrity of the presentation. We will approach visualization design as a combination of methodologies that are already rooted in visual creativity: painting, sculpting, working with mixed media, and reacting to found objects. Rather than developing a design through programming and adjusting numerical parameters, designers create their visualizations by painting directly on top of data representations, hand-shaping data glyphs, and iterating through multiple designs. This relies on new techniques and algorithms to provide mappings from artistic input to transfer functions, and interactively explore large sets of 3D data through volume rendering and particle simulation. StudioV will be used by artists and researchers to explore and present complex 3D datasets in areas such as medical operation planning, engineering, and climatology. Moreover, this project aims to attract new creative users to the challenging task of designing effective data visualizations.