Visualization and Virtual Reality

Visualization helps researchers in obtaining a deeper understanding in their data by mapping scientific data to images. The research of the Scientific Visualization and Virtual Reality group touches on many different subjects, including; interactive distributed exploration environments, problem solving environments, high-performance visualization, interactive Grid-based architectures, interaction methods, and usability studies.

This group works closely with the Insight group of SARA Computing and Networking Services.

The description that covers all research in the visualization group is “Interactive Visual Exploration”. All research in the SVVR group is aimed at producing interactive systems that allow for the visual exploration of scientific data and information. The fundamental background that drives this research direction is that interactive visualization is an indismissible method for the exploratory analysis of scientific data and information in cases where automated data analysis methods fail or are non-existent. The purpose of methods and systems developed within this research is to enable and discover insight.

“Scientific visualization” and “information visualization” have long proven their use in communicating scientific insights and ideas to peers. “Interactive visualization” helps humans in obtaining a deeper understanding in their data by allowing the mapping of scientific data to graphics to be interactively tuned. “Interactive visual exploration” is a relatively new research area that creates an intimate bond between a human and an interactive graphics device to facilitate the exploratory analysis of scientific data.

Scientific visualization, information visualization, virtual reality, interactive graphics devices, human-computer interfaces, interaction methods.