MRI: Development of Viz Tangibles and VizNet: Instrumentation for Interactive Visualization, Simulation, and Collaboration

该项目开发了一种新型的研究工具和工具，用于交互式、协作式、网络化的3D可视化，创造了一种新的物理交互设备类型，称为“有形物”。“这些设备允许用户加载和保存数据，操纵参数，及时导航，控制电话会议链接，并执行其他关键操作。该系统可以轻松地在会议室或办公室之间移动，并可以与单声道或立体声投影仪连接。这一努力使科学家能够显着提高科学可视化在研究，教育，协作和与公众互动中的实用性，可用性和协作潜力。由此产生的工具将被部署，利用，并集成到研究和教育在路易斯安那州的五个校区已经通过众多的学术合作联系在一起。这些平台的核心元素，即“有形物”，是小型的模块化交互设备，通常嵌入不同的交互器，指示器和联网微控制器。到目前为止，三个基本的和三个专门的即有形的，相互联系的物理和功能遵循一个简单的语法，已经实施。一台设备加载并保存在线信息、应用程序和参数，这些都是RFID标签卡所引用的。另一种设备包括可重新绑定的“参数轮”，其支持连续离散参数的操纵。第三种设备提供类似VCR的按钮控制，可以驱动各种交互。这些设备共同为各种可视化和仿真应用提供核心操作，其功能类似于GUI“文件”和“编辑”菜单，但针对简单、协作、半沉浸式、分散注意力的使用进行了优化。开发人员包括具有可视化，人机交互，网格计算，软件工程以及电子，机械和产品设计专业知识的研究人员。合作者包括来自路易斯安那州立大学医学院，南美国，LaTech;化学;计算流体动力学;沿海和飓风建模;和数值相对论。更广泛的影响：这些可视化有形产品的应用范围从实验室到科学教育中心。该网络连接了研究机构、一个医疗中心、一所历史悠久的黑人大学和一个超级计算机中心。

This project, developing a new kind of research instrument and tools for interactive, collaborative, networked 3D visualization, creates a new genre of physical interaction devices, called "viz tangibles." These devices allow users to load and save data, steer parameters, navigate in time, control teleconference links, and perform other key operations. The system can be easily moved between conference rooms or offices, and can be connected with mono or stereo projectors. The effort enables scientists to significantly enhance the utility, usability, and collaborative potential for scientific visualization in research, education, collaboration, and interaction with the general public. The resulting tools will be deployed, utilized, and integrated into research and education at five Louisiana campuses which are already linked together by numerous academic collaborations. The central elements of these platforms, the "viz tangibles," are small, modular interaction devices, typically embedded with different interactors, indicators, and networked microcontrollers. So far, three basic and three specialized viz tangibles, interconnected physically and functionally following a simple grammar, have been implemented. One device loads and saves online information, applications, and parameters, which are referenced with RFID-tagged cards. Another device includes a rebindable "parameter wheel," that supports the manipulation of continuous discrete parameters. A third device provides VCR-like button controls that may drive a variety of interactions. Together, these devices provide core operations for a wide variety of visualization and simulation applications, with functionality resembling the GUI "file" and "edit" menus, but optimized for simple, collaborative, semi-immersive, divided-attention use. The development includes researchers with expertise in visualization, human-computer-interaction, grid computing, software engineering, and electronic, mechanical, and product design. Collaborators include faculty in biomechanics from LSU Medical, Southern U., LaTech; chemistry; computational fluid dynamics; coastal and hurricane modeling; and numerical relativity. Broader Impact: Application of these viz tangibles range from the laboratory to the science education center. The network links research institutions, a medical center, a historically black university, and a supercomputer center.