Data Visualization

How do we use immersive, multisensory technology to create interactive representations of information that go beyond adding another dimension to a well established format of information display?
I agree that immersive 3D helps with visualization, but I believe that we have not yet cracked the code on how best to use VR to provide the human brain with the most efficient exposure to data/problem solving.

and to continue my thought, I see VR misused in many different ways: creating a conference room in which you display a powerpoint presentation, creating a library filled with books, allowing web searches that float the pages returns in space, etc. there are many examples of how the multi-sensory dimensionality possibilities of VR are not used,in favor of simply extending a well establish model(eg, adding a 3rd dimension to a chart).much of what we have established in 2D modeling was done so because there were no other variables to leverage(not including time).What I am puzzled by is what I refer to as the “can’t find my shoes dilemma”. When I am at home, and I cannot find my shoes, I do not visualize a spreadsheet with a line item for all the possible locations of my shoes. What I do, is visualize my entire house, with subconcsious prioritization of the the most likely locations. and look at that – my shoes are sitting right by the door where I left them. in this case, adding a 3rd dimension to a spreadsheet will not help me much. BUT, providing a 3D representation of the “universe” of possible outcomes, with some baked in prioritization, this is how my brain works, and this is possible in VR.

Data visualization and the problem with a virtual "library"

here is something that has been bothering me for awhile. I met with a client a number of months ago and they had an idea for virtual resource room. The topic was relevant because we are building an enterprise Virtual Reality environment for them. The resource room is to be designed to allow users to find documents, educational courses, and other reference material. The client in this case got excited and started to describe how cool it would be for the user to "walk into a virtual library lined with book shelves" that would enable them to "look" for information. Now 200 years ago, or whenever the "dooey"-decimal system was created, it was revolutionary. Now think about how it really plays out for the user: walk into a library, think about what it is you need to find, locate a card catalogue, search until you find the reference piece and corresponding number, find a map of the library, follow the map, hunt for the book, hopefully its in the right and place and not checked out. Now why on earth would we want to recreate the same inefficient process in VR? I say inefficient because compared to what we can do in VR, a traditional library architecture makes about as much sense as hitching a horse to car(Borat anyone?). the best VR solutions(and internet as well) are those that take advantage of the possibilities of the medium to enable what is not possible in any other medium.(this also include faster, better, cheaper). So the question on the table is: if a library construct is not the best way to help users find what they are looking for, then what is? I do not know the answer to this question, but I need to figure it out. The best I can do at the moment is to think about how my brains performs recall. Here is an example: I am at home and I need to find my shoes. I am not immediately sure where they are. When I start to think about it, I DO NOT, visualize a spreadsheet that has a line item for each possible location for my shoes. What I actually do is pop a 3D rendering of my house into my head, and with a birds eye view, I "see" that my shoes are by the front-door where I left them. so in one quick thought, I know where my shoes are, and how best to go and get them. how did my brain do that? Now shoes are easy, but what if I am trying to find a document on my hard drive? I do not visualize my hard drive. I do think about what the document was for and when I wrote it. when I shop on zappos for shoes, they very conveniently lead me down a path of what is available. In the wide world of Text/Data Mining/Analytics, we call this Guided Navigation. Now imagine that we apply the science of guided navigation to an avatar in a 3D immersive world......now we are getting somewhere. now think about grocery shopping. I usually have list, but I never order online. I go to the grocery store and walk the isles. Why? because I like to be visually reminded of things I might be interested in, but were not on my list. Quite often however what I might be inspired to buy has no relevance to what's on my list. I will take irrelevance out of focus if I am in a hurry. If I am not, I will allow myself to "see" seemingly irrelevant things along my path to completing the list. We can do this digitally as well: "show me only what I asked for" or "show me things along the way". Lets call this a relevance filter option. So, Guided Navigation + Relevance Filter + 3D Immersion = Guided Visualization? Guided Information Immersion? every great idea needs a great acronym. but that aside, hopefully you see where I am going with this

Generation gap?

I had a chance yesterday to speak professionally with someone between the ages of 21-24. The topic of social networking came up, and I decided to ask her about what tools she used/did not use and why. very interesting feedback. It was just one person, but I think it is safe to say that there is not one definition of how people in this age bracket use digital comms.

Here is her take on some things:

Facebook: I don't use it. I think that people disclose too many personal details about their lives. Why would you put it all out there for everyone to see?

Twitter: What is the point? does anyone really care that I: just ate a sandwich, just went to the store, just rode my bike?

LinkedIn: I use this tool because it is helpful in networking.

Even more interesting I think was that she just graduated from college, and:
1. Never used books in the library. she feels that the books are still there so that it still looks like a "library"
2. people in the library are there to use the computers
3. all research is done online now

I felt like someone's grandfather talking about how the "young folks" these days have this new device called a "cell phone", and I am really not that old.

IMHO, cellphone, web, email, and txt are now all taken for granted and part of everyday life for this age bracket. However, we cannot/should not assume that other methods of communication are universally accepted or otherwise ubiquitous.