{"id":3813,"date":"2018-07-26T11:35:24","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T11:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.kolabtree.com\/?p=3813"},"modified":"2018-09-12T13:47:18","modified_gmt":"2018-09-12T13:47:18","slug":"virtual-reality-the-future-of-data-visualization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/virtual-reality-the-future-of-data-visualization\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Reality: The Future of Data Visualization"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_45_1 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" area-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-69f1776b9307e\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69f1776b9307e\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/virtual-reality-the-future-of-data-visualization\/#Virtual_Reality_as_the_Future_of_Data_Visualization_New_Strategies\" title=\"Virtual Reality as the Future of Data Visualization: New Strategies\">Virtual Reality as the Future of Data Visualization: New Strategies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/virtual-reality-the-future-of-data-visualization\/#Going_Beyond_Simple_Experiences\" title=\"Going Beyond Simple Experiences\">Going Beyond Simple Experiences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/virtual-reality-the-future-of-data-visualization\/#Is_VR_the_Answer\" title=\"Is VR the Answer?\">Is VR the Answer?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>It seems almost primitive today to share data and visual ideas through static pie charts, bar graphs and the like. We now have the ability to deliver dynamic, interactive visuals that communicate insights faster, more effectively and in real time. Is virtual reality, then, the future of data visualization? Take a look at the examples of the incredibly beautiful visualization of the <a href=\"https:\/\/metoorising.withgoogle.com\/\">#MeToo<\/a> movement from Google Trends or\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-srv\/special\/local\/dc-recovered-guns\/?noredirect=on\">Washington Post\u2019s Sea of Steel<\/a> visualization.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s just one problem. The amount of data coming in has grown considerably, even when there are only a handful of sources involved. So many apps, devices, and tools are now regularly collecting data, it provides an endless stream of information, but also an infinite stream of maintenance and revision for data visualizations.<\/p>\n<p>2D or even 3D images on a flat surface \u2014 like a conventional monitor or TV \u2014 will soon be limited so much that it leads to sub-par visual experiences, at least when it comes to data visualizations.<\/p>\n<p>Cue virtual or augmented reality technologies, already successful by any means. Experts expect the global augmented virtual reality market size to be worth $209 billion by 2022. Comparably, the global virtual reality software market size will be worth $6.4 billion by 2021. That\u2019s massive.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3851\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.kolabtree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/statistic_id591181_projected-size-of-the-augmented-and-virtual-reality-market-2016-2022.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/statistic_id591181_projected-size-of-the-augmented-and-virtual-reality-market-2016-2022.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/statistic_id591181_projected-size-of-the-augmented-and-virtual-reality-market-2016-2022-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/statistic_id591181_projected-size-of-the-augmented-and-virtual-reality-market-2016-2022-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/statistic_id591181_projected-size-of-the-augmented-and-virtual-reality-market-2016-2022-300x223@2x.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The technology also has a ton of potential in the data visualization and analytics industry. Imagine a virtual space or experience where you can manipulate, review and create data with 360-degree precision. It\u2019s a very sci-fi and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2016\/12\/27\/14089120\/senso-vr-minority-report-hand-tracking-gloves\"><em>Minority Report<\/em>-esque<\/a> concept that could see everyone \u2014 from the average consumer to company executives \u2014 reviewing data in a virtual space.<\/p>\n<p>It will completely alter the way we view data. For instance, business presentations often take place in a conference-style environment, with professionals or executives seated around a table gazing at a projector screen. In virtual reality, that setting could change completely. You could give a presentation on a virtual beach, for example, or an alien planet. And as far-fetched as it sounds, it can help the data visualizations and resulting presentation, especially when you tailor the virtual environment to the existing content or topic.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Virtual_Reality_as_the_Future_of_Data_Visualization_New_Strategies\"><\/span>Virtual Reality as the Future of Data Visualization: New Strategies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>By nature, data visualization doesn\u2019t lend itself to fun or entertainment. In more serious environments, that can be a good thing, but it can also affect the data to convey. Audiences, for instance, may be less inclined to pay attention or heed the information if it\u2019s in a bland, conventional format.<\/p>\n<p>Virtual reality has the potential to offer so much more in the way of innovation and interest when it comes to experience. Take Arwa Michelle Mboya\u2019s project Night at the Museum project (below), for example. It offers an incredible mobile-friendly virtual reality experience, meant to present findings in varying 3D-oriented scenes such as you might see at a museum, science fair or \u201cgallery-like space\u201d in the real world.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GozHTSY4XLY\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nAside from entertainment, VR and AR technologies can also offer more practical use cases when it comes to data manipulation, processing, and review. It\u2019s possible to present data in a 3D canvas, wrapping around us visually to offer more advanced and natural ways to interact with it. Cross-referencing applications can also allow for discovery and pattern recognition in more efficient ways.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.virtualitics.com\/\">Virtualitics <\/a>is an AI and VR provider that is already working on these kinds of experiences. They call it \u201cimmersive analytics,\u201d which surrounds viewers visually and gives them full control alongside access to smart mapping or AI support, which they can use to explore and understand data sets. We\u2019re talking multi-dimensional data analysis, augmented by incredibly natural interactions and support.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Going_Beyond_Simple_Experiences\"><\/span>Going Beyond Simple Experiences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, few applications offer VR-enabled data visualization in today\u2019s landscape. It\u2019s a relatively new concept that will require time and dedication to reach its full potential, namely from the developers and software engineers in the space.<\/p>\n<p>In its current state, most VR and AR data visualization experiences allow for shallow interactions. You can move, reshape and view data in new forms, but you can\u2019t do much more than that. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iianalytics.com\/research\/data-visualization-in-virtual-reality-useless-hype-or-practical-application\">DatavizVR is a great example<\/a> of this \u2014 the app allows users to visualize and display data sets, yet that\u2019s all. It certainly leaves something to be desired in the way of more advanced experiences and presentations.<\/p>\n<p>For the technology to really become useful in the industry, we\u2019ll need to see new, custom experiences that allow for more control over the resulting data.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine, for instance, an onsite development planner who can map out an entire project before them through visualized progress, spec details, safety statistics and worker insights, all presented via a virtual space. Yes, that data and information can be visible almost instantly, but presenting it in a more meaningful way means crafting such experiences at a software level. The finely crafted experiences become even more significant as you start to consider how the user might want to manipulate, edit or review the data they see.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not as if nobody has made any reliable virtual reality visualizations. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/blog\/8-immersive-virtual-reality-data-visualizations\/\">actually quite a few<\/a>, like <strong>Google Labs\u2019 Brexit visualization<\/strong> or <strong>The New York Times&#8217; Pluto experience<\/strong>.\u00a0But you\u2019ll notice that many of them have are not necessarily the kind of data visualizations and content you\u2019d see in a business environment.<\/p>\n<p>Therein lies the major question for modern applications of VR in data and analytics: How will professionals use the technology and space?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_VR_the_Answer\"><\/span>Is VR the Answer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the end, it\u2019s important to understand even though we\u2019re seeing a lot of promise and potential, it will take some time for the technology to really come into its own in the data visualization world. VR looks promising as the future of data visualization but businesses and academia have a long way to go before actually employing it.<\/p>\n<p>On top of new forms of technology and hardware innovations, the developer and software engineers need to build and design\u00a0 virtual experiences. Furthermore, we\u2019re still working out ways in which virtual and augmented reality can be useful to this end. What\u2019s the best way to allow data manipulation and editing in a 3D environment? How do we generate systems that allow for data imports and procedural visualization models? We\u2019ll have to figure all that out in due time.<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<br \/>\nKolabtree is a platform that allows you to hire freelance scientists from MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, and other institutions all over the world. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/?utm_source=Blog_VRDataviz\">Get in touch<\/a> with a scientist today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It seems almost primitive today to share data and visual ideas through static pie charts, bar graphs and the like. We now have the ability to deliver dynamic, interactive visuals that communicate insights faster, more effectively and in real time. Is virtual reality, then, the future of data visualization? Take a look at the examples<\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/blog\/virtual-reality-the-future-of-data-visualization\/\" title=\"Read More\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":3852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[434,398,247,433],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.1 (Yoast SEO v20.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Virtual Reality: The Future of Data Visualization - The Kolabtree Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Virtual reality is quickly becoming the future of data visualization, allowing for real-time, interactive experiences. 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