2019 ESIP Winter Meeting

Session Abstract:
Across industries and government, there are many groups working with virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies inside and outside of the realm of Earth science. In this dynamic panel, we will hear from scientists and researchers working with VR/AR/MR from various scientific disciplines about their approach to data visualization techniques. Interdisciplinary work and complex data sets will provide interesting perspective to the ongoing exploration of how immersive technologies can be used for Earth science and beyond.

Session Takeaways (post-meeting):
1) Presently, we can see the opportunities for AR/VR. The term “magic moments” is expressed to describe the peaks in using technology like this, where we are fully immersed in the activity we are doing and forget the layer of technology connecting us to the activity.
2) There are many key limitations with this technology, worthy of consideration. Data ingestion pipelines, standardization of data for VR visualization pipelines, hardware limitations (Field of View, physical strain on users), Costs, evaluating how this visualization technique is beneficial
3) Simplicity is a wholly necessary element of UI with VR/AR because input modalities with this technology are very simple as well, like gestures or voice commands. It’s a rich area of research at present and we need to find the basic elements which can be standardized.