Viewing and exploring 3D data on a classical desktop environment has its limitations and results in hidden structures. This project aims to provide a solution in form of a plugin for the visualization software called Glue, that enables the viewing of 3D data in AR
AR, Glue, Python, data visualisation, immersive analytics
The main goal for this project is to build a prototype in collaboration with the Astronomy Department at Harvard University that enables a workflow of exporting and viewing 3D data from Glue on a smartphone in Augmented Reality (AR). A secondary goal is a conceptual development of a bi-directional workflow enabling the selection of data in AR.
The Seamless Astronomy Group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics developed an open-source visualization software written in Python called Glue. It can create linked data visualizations and is highly extendable via plugins for all sorts of data. Viewing and exploring 3D data on a 2D screen has some limitations and results in hidden structures. Recent developments in AR, i.e., its availability and affordability, increased the desire to view more content in AR.
A Python based plugin for Glue was developed. For this, a third party service called CoSpaces is used. Expert users found the AR solution in combination with traditional desktop views to be beneficial. In user testing regarding the differences between AR and desktop interactions, we found large contrasts in speed and accuracy, with AR performing significantly worse. We theorize that the potential of AR is more on insights and memorability. Lastly, the developed plugin is conceptually extended with 3D data selection techniques that have been presented and discussed.
Institute for Interactive Technologies (IIT)
FHNW Brugg/Windisch
Switzerland
Andreas Ambühl (andreas.ambuehl@students.fhnw.ch)
Luca Fluri (luca.fluri@students.fhnw.ch)
Arzu Çöltekin (arzu.coltekin@fhnw.ch)
Martin Lacayo (martin.lacayo@fhnw.ch)
