MRI: Development of OmegaTable and OmegaDesk - Instruments for Interactive Visual Data Exploration and Collaboration

提案编号：CNS08-21121PI(S)：Leigh，Jason Brown，Maxine D.；Johnson，Andre E.；雷纳博特，卢克机构：伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校，IL 60612-7227标题：核磁共振/开发：Dev.OmegaTable和OmegaDesk？交互式视觉数据探索和协作仪器项目建议：该项目开发用于交互式视觉数据探索和可视化的仪器，提供一个强大、易于使用、信息丰富的网络基础设施仪器，以支持科学发现。先进的可视化仪器充当望远镜或显微镜的目镜，使研究人员能够在网络空间查看他们的数据，并更好地管理访问和分析数据的日益扩大的规模和复杂性。OmegaTable和OmegaDesk就是这样的目镜。前者支持多个用户围着一张桌子坐着或站着，后者是一种单用户设备，最终将取代S办公室中的桌子。两者都将超高分辨率的计算机增强型协作工作空间和自动立体虚拟环境与多点触敏表面相统一，以便用户可以直观地指向、书写、触摸和操作所显示的信息，并与远程同事交流和共享这些信息。这些仪器充当数字助手，预测和支持与它们合作的人，使全球科学合作机构受益，并为新的计算机科学研究提供基础。对于UIC的电子可视化实验室(EVL)来说，这些仪器代表了数十年开发沉浸式环境的经验和专业知识的巅峰，从20世纪90年代初房间大小的洞穴，到1994年办公室大小的Immersa办公桌，到2000年的GeoWall，以及最近的超高分辨率Lambda Vision瓷砖显示墙和自动立体Varrier瓷砖显示墙。每一代新一代显示技术都提供了一些高级功能？更高的分辨率、不受阻碍的自动立体观看、多千兆网络连接和直观的用户界面-更好地耦合全球科学虚拟组织，并更好地将科学工作场所与先进的网络基础设施相结合。OmegaTable和OmegaDesk在一套仪器中结合了所有这些功能，使社区能够远距离查看和共享高分辨率2D、2.5D和3D立体图像，并通过直观的触摸界面操作图像。最独特的能力在于他们能够同时显示2D和3D立体图像，而不需要用户佩戴3D眼镜的头部跟踪设备。这些仪器在虚拟现实、人机交互、高速联网、科学可视化和网格计算方面开辟了新的机遇。广泛的影响：该项目使最先进的设备、机会和监督能够加强学生教育(为科学界提供高度集成的虚拟现实协作环境)，与业界合作将促进科学和工程的新技术商业化，并继续与世界各地的领域科学家建立伙伴关系。除了加强教育外，该工具还提供暑期实习机会，并在毕业后提供就业机会。从这些工具提供的解决复杂环境、医疗和经济问题的可能性中，整个社会将获益良多。

Proposal #: CNS 08-21121PI(s): Leigh, Jason Brown, Maxine D.; Johnson, Andre E.; Renambot, LucInstitution: University of Illinois - Chicago Chicago, IL 60612-7227Title: MRI/Dev.: Dev. of OmegaTable and OmegaDesk ? Instruments for Interactive Visual Data Exploration and CollaborationProject Proposed:This project, developing instruments for interactive visual data exploration and visualization, provides a powerful, easy-to-use information-rich cyberinfrastructure instrumentation in support of scientific discovery. Advanced visualization instruments serve as the eyepieces of a telescope or microscope, enabling researchers to view their data in cyberspace, and better manage the increased scale and complexity of accessing and analyzing the data. The OmegaTable and OmegaDesk are such eyepieces. The former supports multiple users sitting or standing around a table, and the latter is a single-user device that will ultimately replace the desk in one?s office. Both unify ultra-high resolution computer-enhanced collaboration workspaces and autostereoscopic virtual environments with multi-touch-sensitive surfaces so that users can intuitively point, write, touch, and manipulate the information displayed, and communicate and share this information with remote colleagues. These instruments act as digital assistants, anticipating and enabling those who work with them, benefiting global scientific collaboratories as well as providing a foundation for new computer science research. For the Electronic Visualization Lab (EVL) at UIC, these instruments represent the culmination of decades of experience and expertise developing immersive environments, from the room-size CAVE in the early 1990s, to the office-sized Immersa Desk in 1994, to GeoWall in 2000, and the more recent ultra-high resolution Lambda Vision tiled display wall and autosteoscopic Varrier tiled-display wall. Each new generation of display technology provides some advanced features ? higher resolution, unencumbered autostereoscopic viewing, multi-Gigabit network connectivity, and intuitive user interfaces - better coupling worldwide scientific virtual organizations, and better integrating scientific workplaces with advanced cyberinfrastructure. OmegaTable and OmegaDesk combine all this functionality in one set of instruments, enabling communities to view and share high-resolution 2D, 2.5D, and 3D stereoscopic imagery over distance and to manipulate the imagery with an intuitive touch interface. The most unique capability lies in their ability to display 2D and 3D stereoscopic imagery simultaneously, without users needing to wear 3D glasses of head-tracking equipment. The instruments open new opportunities in virtual reality, human-computer interaction, high-speed networking, scientific visualization, and Grid computing.Broader Impacts: This project enables state-of-the-art equipment, opportunities, and supervision to enhance student education (providing scientific communities with highly integrated virtual-reality collaboration environments), to work with industry to commercialize new technologies that advance science and engineering, and to continue on-going partnerships with domain scientists world-wide. In addition to enhancing education, the instrument provides summer internships and enables jobs upon graduation. Society as a whole has much to gain by the possibilities to solve complex environmental, medical, and economic issues that these instruments offer.