Data Visualization Exploration and Collaboration

Clemson, SC

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced obstacles to many areas of astronomy, especially research requiring access to shared facilities and driven by interaction between individuals needing to interpret complex multi-dimensional data. Virtual reality (VR) is being increasingly considered as a viable and necessary tool for connecting with colleagues. However, existing VR infrastructures are either 1) too focused on social interaction for large audiences and lack options to appropriately visualize and explore scientific data in a scalable format, or 2) lack multiuser connectivity and instead focus on specialized individual experiences for use on high-end devices.