Hybrid Image Visualization

Project Background

Hybrid-image visualization are visualizations designed for data analysis in large-scale viewing environments -- such as the WILD wall. Hybrid-image visualizations blend two different visual representations into a single static view, such that each representation can be perceived at a different viewing distance.

See the project page for more details

Project Focus

So far we have built tools to create a few example hybrid image visualizations but there are many avenues open for extending this work in the context of an internship or Master's thesis.

Build perception-based tools to optimize hybrid image visualizations - e.g. for the display of bar charts, line charts, ... This would involve predicting what size a single bar or line would need to have based on perceptual parameters such as contrast sensitivity or visual acuity.
Running user studies to test how hybrid images work in the context of data analysis tasks. Many interesting questions could be studied, such as: how does the required locomotion in space affect reasoning, how well do hybrid images work in collaboration, or how do hybrid images compare to other techniques such as split screens
develop a real-time implementation of hybrid image visualization that allow the near and far images to be modified through interaction, or that dynamically optimizes the rendering for multiple simultaneous observers
other ideas for extension are - of course - also welcome

The student can discuss ideas for extending the work and the internship/thesis topic will be phrased to match the interest of the student.

Requirements for the project

Depending on which avenues the student is interesting in pursuing a different set of skills will be an asset. In either case, the student should be familiar with programming in Java. For #1 above, also a background in perception will be beneficial. For #3, a background in computer graphics and computer vision will be helpful, and for #2 some experience in running user studies.

The student should be comfortable communicating in English about the project.

Publications to read in preparation

The original hybrid image work

Supervision