UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As massive amounts of data pour into research laboratories around the world, scientists now face the challenge of finding ways to visualize data to find relationships and solutions that may lie hidden in that information. More importantly, as the research enterprise stretches across the world, scientists need a way to work on data analysis collaboratively.
Penn State researchers will have a chance to learn more about how virtual reality (VR) can serve as a unique tool to create collaborative research and learning spaces. Tomás Dorta, a professor of architecture and design, University of Montreal, will conduct a seminar on and a series of demonstrations about the Hybrid Virtual Environment 3D, or Hyve-3D, a patented social VR system that allows for creating objects and environments collaboratively.
The seminar will be held from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, in room 103 of the Stuckeman Family Building. Hourly demonstrations will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m., and on Dec. 19 at 10 and 11 a.m. in room 208 of the Stuckeman Family Building.
According to Dorta, who is the principal designer of Hyve-3D, the system is designed for creative fields like architecture, design, engineering and cinema, but also for visualization in medicine, chemistry and other sciences.
Dorta said that the system can enhance existing research.
“More than an active co-design, visualization and teaching tool, the social VR — without headsets — experience of Hyve-3D can be used as a research instrument in two ways,” said Dorta. “First, via immersive retrospection to assess and analyze psychological aspects such as UX and cognition, or social issues pertaining, for example, to sensitizing participants to bullying. Second, by ethnography by telepresence, where off-field researchers using remote Hyve-3Ds can be immersed in the activity — synchronously or asynchronously — without affecting the studied task.”
The system’s independent 3D cursor provides complementary visualizations between perspectival views on the immersive screen and orthogonal views on tablets. It allows remote collaboration from several locations involving several users, each equipped with their tablet. The system is mobile and can be hung easily on a standard suspended ceiling. The immersive screen design allows users to share the experience of a 360-degree immersive movie collectively, without the need to constantly turn their head around.
Advanced registration is required. Register here.
For more information about about the system, visit the Hyve-3D website.