Computer Science

Colloquium Details

Applying Insights from Visual Perception, Art and Illustration to the Design of More Effective Techniques for Representing Data

Abstract

Visualization research is the science and art of designing, implementing and evaluating methods for effectively communicating information through images. Fundamental questions include: How can we determine how best to portray a large, complicated set of data so that its essential features can be accurately and intuitively understood? How can we best measure the success of our efforts? Where should we look to gain insight into the science behind the art of effective visual representation? In this talk I will address these and other visualization research issues in the context of some of my recent work in designing effective textures for 3D shape representation and 2D multivariate flow visualization. In particular, I will describe our efforts to unite inspiration from art with insights from fundamental findings in visual perception to define the characteristics of texture patterns that can be effectively used for visualization purposes such as facilitating accurate shape perception and the integrated comprehension of multivariate distributions. As part of this discussion, I will present the findings of our recent observer experiments intended to evaluate the effects of texture orientation, and other characteristics, on shape judgment accuracy. Time permitting, I will also describe some of our recent work in developing methods to more accurately estimate the continuous geometric properties of smooth surfaces approximated by arbirary triangle meshes, and in efficiently synthesizing shape-conforming textures.