Hybrid-Dimensional Visualization and Interaction - Integrating 2D and 3D Visualization with Semi-Immersive Navigation Techniques

Abstract

The integration of 2D visualization and navigation techniques has reached a state where the potential for improvements is relatively low. With 3D-stereoscopy-compatible technology now commonplace not only in research but also in many households, the need for better 3D visualization and navigation techniques has increased. Nevertheless, for the representation of many abstract data such as networks, 2D visualization remains the primary choice. However, often such abstract data is associated with spatial data, thereby increasing the need for combining both 2D and 3D visualization and navigation techniques. We discuss a new hybrid-dimensional approach integrating 2D and 3D (stereoscopic) visualization as well as navigation into a semi-immersive virtual environment. This approach is compared to classical 6DOF navigation techniques. Three scientific as well as educational applications are presented: an educational car model, a plant simulation data exploration, and a cellular model with network exploration, each of these combining spatial with associated abstract data.

The CELLmicrocosmos Tools: A Small History of Java-Based Cell and Membrane Modelling Open Source Software Development

“…While the 2D visualization is showing a classical KEGG-derived network, the 3D visualization embeds the network structure in the spatial context of the cell. The combination of 2D and 3D visualization is also known as hybrid-dimensional visualization [45].…”

From Virtual Reality to Immersive Analytics in Bioinformatics

“…3D interaction is possible with a special stylus pen. This setup enables hybrid-dimensional visualization and interaction, visualizing spatial structures with abstract data side-by-side [21]. Aquaria, a molecular graphics and information system which can be used via a web browser to explore protein structures of the Protein Data Bank on different semantic layers, was extended by a Leap motion-based control kit which can be used to navigate the 3D models by hand [22], [23].…”

Stereoscopic Space Map – Semi-immersive Configuration of 3D-stereoscopic Tours in Multi-display Environments

“…We call this approach Stereoscopic Space Map (or short in the following sections: Space Map). Different navigation methods were implemented to change the view in the virtual world by using the Space Map, partly based on our previous work [17].…”

“…Of course, an overview like a map can be shown directly on the displays of the CAVE2 [19]. Especially CAVE2 is often used for hybrid-dimensional visualization and interaction, combining 2D and 3D approaches [17]. But this hybrid reality visualization will disturb the immersion as well as the 3D-stereoscopic effect, in case the CAVE2 should just represent the panorama window to the virtual world -and here, a 3D model should be explored (see also section Stereoscopic 3D Methods).…”

“…The Space Map realized with the zSpace and CmCX provides different interaction techniques supporting six degrees of freedom (6DOF). Navigation using the zStylus pen was first introduced in our previous work discussing a hybrid-dimensional visualization and interaction approach by using the zSpace [17]. In Floating Mode it is possible to highlight each component of a model andin case nothing was selected -to freely move through the virtual map.…”