Title: Assisted Viewpoint Interaction for 3D Visualizations

When: Tuesday, April 26, 2005, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: Large Commons Room, 5^th Fl. IS Bldg.

Who: Stephen Hughes

Committee:
Dr. Michael Lewis (Advisor), DIST
Dr. Peter Brusilovsky, DIST
Dr. Shi-Kuo Chang (Dept of Computer Science)
Dr. Stephen Hirtle, DIST
Dr. Michael Spring, DIST

Abstract: Many Three-dimensional Visualizations are characterized by the use of a mobile viewpoint that offers multiple perspectives on a set of visual information. To effectively control the viewpoint, the viewer must simultaneously manage the cognitive tasks of understanding the layout of the environment, and knowing where to look to find relevant information, along with mastering the physical interaction required to position the viewpoint in meaningful locations. Numerous systems attempt to address these problems by catering to two extremes: simplified controls or direct presentation. This research attempts to promote hybrid interfaces that offer a supportive, yet unscripted exploration of a virtual environment. Attentive Navigation is a specific technique designed to actively redirect viewers attention while accommodating their independence. Initial evaluation shows that this technique effectively facilitates several visualization tasks including landmark recognition, survey knowledge acquisition, and search sensitivity. Unfortunately, it also proves to be excessively intrusive, leading viewers to occasionally struggle for control. Additional development is proposed to improve the design by suggesting formalized coordination protocols that will mute the shortcomings of this system.