I recently had the wonderful opportunity to train in the use of an Igloo immersive reality space. The CDT's  Summer industry placement program put me in contact with DAFNI (“the National Platform to satisfy the computational needs in support of data analysis; infrastructure research; and strategic thinking for the UK’s long term planning and investment needs.”), and luckily their interest in data visualization is as strong as ours, granting us access to a state-of-the-art immersive reality space produced by Igloo. 

Given my interest in the study of data visualization, specifically that of future urban digital twins, I was invited to join three other researchers from related departments to conduct a week of training where we learned how to setup and construct our new visualization “Cube”, its hardware, and technical work with their projection warping API.

Fundamentally it is an “immersive” room with 270 degree of projection that allows visualization all around the users – a sort of “shared-VR”. While the uses of this tool are endless, one of the departments goals is public engagement - and if our training was any insight, the Cube is definitely engagement, as I found myself endlessly interrupted by curious students excited to see just what the cube could do - and we were happy to tell them: novel data visualization – pertaining to a number of subjects.

In the short time we tested the device we  created working examples of existing urban data and climate models. The Jean Goulding Institute even made use of the Cube to conduct an interview focusing on their goals of data driven solutions to societal challenges, and research, in data science, AI, governance and reproducibility.

The Cube is also being used for research into cyber security and TIP/S. In terms of my own research, the Cube is, and has been incredibly valuable. My proposed project involves the use of urban digital twins, and their visualization,  to evaluate TIP/S issues pertaining to the implementation of new smart-city technologies.

Access to the Data Cube will be a real boon to my project and research for a few reasons: it allows me to explore differences in how visualization affects usability and use, as well as providing me a gorgeous platform to attract potential research users when it comes time to conduct the sociological, human focused,  portion of my research. I can imagine the cube will be incredibly engaging at a real event - which brings not only the benefit of exposure for the University and our partners, but the possibility to engage with more subjects for user studies.

Overall, this has been the best week of my year - really demonstrated the strong points of being a member of the program. Just having access to this type of technology to explore my research is incredible, and it was an absolute pleasure to meet, and work with members of UKRIC, Igloo, and other departments…with the added benefit of a good shoulder workout during the construction phase.

Spending a week discussing interdisciplinary problems, and potential uses for the Cube with experts in their respective fields proved to me that this CDT is truly an interdisciplinary program - one that allows the freedom to explore non-traditional ideas across the traditionally rigid boundaries of academia.

Even though we’ve just learned how to set it up, I can’t wait to see the creative, interdisciplinary ways  projects integrate this device into their research. I’d like to thank DAFNI, the TIP/S CDT, UKRIC, the other organizations, and more importantly all the people who came together to make this opportunity possible – I would name them, but I’m a privacy student, after all.