Award Abstract #0521559
MRI: Development of Viz Tangibles and VizNet: Instrumentation for Interactive Visualization, Simulation, and Collaboration

NSF Org:	CNS Division of Computer and Network Systems
Initial Amendment Date:	August 26, 2005
Latest Amendment Date:	August 1, 2008
Award Number:	0521559
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Rita V. Rodriguez CNS Division of Computer and Network Systems CSE Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering
Start Date:	September 1, 2005
Expires:	August 31, 2009 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$397121
Investigator(s):	Brygg Ullmer ullmer@cct.lsu.edu (Principal Investigator) Sitharama Iyengar (Co-Principal Investigator) Stephen Beck (Co-Principal Investigator) Werner Benger (Co-Principal Investigator) Edward Seidel (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College 202 Himes Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803 225/578-2760
NSF Program(s):	EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES, SCI TESTBEDS, MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):	0000912 Computer Science
Program Reference Code(s):	HPCC, 9218, 9150, 9135, 1189
Program Element Code(s):	9150, 7368, 1189

ABSTRACT

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.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Brygg Ullmer, Rajesh Sankaran, Srikanth Jandhyala, Blake Tregre, Cornelius Toole, Karun Kallakuri, Christopher Laan, Matthew Hess, Farid Harhad, Urban Wiggins, and Shining Sun.  "Tangible Menus and Interaction Trays: Core tangibles for common physical/digital activities,"  Proceedings of Tangible and Embedded Interaction (ACM).,  2008,  p. 209.

Sankaran, R., Ullmer, B., Jandhyala, S., Kallakuri, K., Sun, S., and Laan, C..  "Blades & Tiles: An Extensible Hardware Architecture for Ubiquitous Interaction Devices,"  Proceedings of Ubiquitous Computing 2007.,  2007,  p. 260.


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