The Future of Big Data Is Immersive
At Scenes Unseen Takram explores the future of Big Data with an interactive VR experience.
A self initiated R&D project that is based on Theodolite, Takram’s pioneering 3D geographical platform, Data Real will be launched at Scenes Unseen, part of London Design Fair, 22–25 September.
A deep dive into data flows, Takram’s innovative project explores the potential for immersive VR data environments in which the user can physically manipulate surrounding information.
With the aim of creating an intuitive way to engage with Big Data sets, Theodolite was a first step in visualising complex data streams. Takram’s founder Kinya Tagawa explains more about the project “With the advent of Big Data as the new frontier for innovation and competition, models and tools become increasingly complex to understand. Our interest in human centric design-led research and big data solutions led us to develop a bespoke Big Data visualization software technology that enables the user to see and intuitively manipulate geographical data streams in a 3D interface”.
A powerful tool, Theodolite displays data in exquisite detail and beauty, liberating the user from dense and flat data lists and charts. And yet, there were further opportunities in the field of big data.
“Having created Theodolite, we wanted to push the technology further”, adds Kinya, “and with the recent advancements in Virtual Reality technology, imagined physically experiencing data — diving into a data flow, grasping chunks of information, sensing their correlations, patterns or trends. We believe that in the future, this capability will completely transform the way we interact with information, enabling a subjective feeling across data sets”.
Proposing that rich visual and physical interactions will enhance a user’s intuitive ability to manipulate, comprehend and analyse data, Takram’s team sought to move beyond the constraints of a screen based interface.
Minoru Sakurai, Theodolite and Data Real’s design engineer, summarises the project’s long term applications. “We approached the project with the premise that exploring and manipulating parameter values in a fully immersive 3 dimensional space can help increase the user’s focus on performed tasks and facilitate logical inferences between blocks of data. ”
To achieve a fully immersive environment, Virtual Reality and gesture control technology was key. “Given the resurgence of interest in VR, with improved ergonomics, optics, audio quality and SDKs that enable better motion tracking of user’s movements, VR has reached unprecedented levels of immersion that enabled us to further develop Theodolite’s interactive possibilities”, explains experiential designer Cedric Carêmel.
Combining Theodolite with the novel application of well known VR, motion and gesture control and SDKs, such as the Oculus Rift, Leap Motion and Unity, Data Real aims to demonstrate the usability and relevance of virtual applications that can provide rich visual interactions with large volumes of information.
As a proof of concept, the prototype draws on available public aviation data. Visitors to Scenes Unseen will be able to interact with and manipulate this data flow in stunning VR, demonstrating the potential of immersive data environments.
Looking forward to future applications, Takram hopes that Data Real will open new paths for data analysis.
Hear more about Theodolite and Data Real at Takram’s Super Talk session, 10.00–11.00 on 22nd September, where Kinya Tagawa will be sharing Takram’s approach to innovation. Book the FREE talk HERE.
Visit Takram’s FREE #LDF16 show Scenes Unseen, where Theodolite and Data Real’s designers will be available to talk to from the 22nd–25th September. Find details HERE .
For press and interveiw enquiries or more details about the show and projets please contact Helena Corvin-Swahn on helena@takram.com +44 (0)7815 060610.
Follow Takram’s LDF show on Twitter @Takram_London #ScenesUnseen / on Instagram: takram_london
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