Minority Report is Real

Key Question: What is the Value of 3D?

We get asked this question a lot. And of course there's a distinction between on-screen 3D (simulated) and real-world data overlays, so I think that the question needs to be answered for both cases. We might also pose the question differently - as "what is the value of an immersive computing experience?"

Key Question: How are Immersive Interfaces Using Data Sources?

It seems that many of the most useful immersive interfaces are using similar data sources - or kinds of data (video and photo feeds in particular). This thread will explore the data sources, APIs, and data types used by immersive interfaces, looking for trends, patterns, and smart ideas.

Key Question: Where is Flexible 3D Infovis in Use?

Many cinematic visualizations have now been created and are clearly the inspiration for this panel. But these are frozen in the 4th dimension. Then, many one-off 3D visualizations have been created as well.  Experimental, informative, important evolutions, we call these one-off's because they only visualize one data source.

What visualizations are allowing you to pipe in your data?  What visualizations are allowing you to configure them and experience discovery that's meaningful to you?

Key Question: What Visualizations are Providing Discovery?

One informal litmus test for the effectiveness of a visualizations is:  Does this visualization provide discovery?  Did you learn anything from using this?

For example, upon looking at Death & Taxes 2009, you immediately discover the size relationships between spending in different departments of the U.S. government.

So what 3D visualizations are providing real moments of revelation for you?