Visualizing Research in Virtual Reality and Non-Linear Holographic Rhizomes

1. Visualizing Research in Virtual Reality and Non-Linear Holographic Rhizomes Dwight Toavs and Paulette Robinson Information Resources Management College National Defense University

2. Introduction Both wanted to… • Wanted to do something different. • Use Multimedia approaches • Media and research challenges: • Policy World: a dynamic multifaceted environment where context and time are key elements. • Within the Matrix: capture experience more wholistically

3. Policy WorldDissertationPixelating Policy:Visualizing Issue Transformationin Real and Virtual Worlds Part II - Demonstrations

4. Retrospective Sensemaking • Why? • Can one create a VR-based policy visualization? • Use information technology to teach policy • What can a policy visualization reveal? • Context, complexity, and dynamics • Role of time in policymaking • Importance of policy history & learning • Inadequacy of a popular policy framework ETD http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12222004-094635/

5. Pixelating Policy – A Metaphor “Pixelating Policy” is a metaphorical reference to a digital imaging technique, in which a portion of a digital image is progressively magnified until the individual pixels (or picture elements), the basic elements of a digital image, can be seen. Policy World uses the basic elements of graphics – graphic primitives – to represent the basic elements of public policy. This research examined the basic elements of public policy to understand how issues are transformed over time.

6. Project Scope • Research Question:How were the paperwork concerns of 1975 transformed into the e-government concerns of 2002? • Theory Questions: • Do issues transform? If so, . . . • Can issue transformation be identified? If so, . . . • Is there a relationship between issue transformation and policy change? If so, . . . • What is that relationship?

7. Research Approach • Case study: Federal IRM policies from 1975 – 2002 • Primary Sources: Congressional hearings on IRM issues • Issues: Were relevant before 1975; are still relevant • Paperwork Reduction • Privacy • IT Acquisition • Management Reform • Records and Information • Computer Security • Content Analysis: Witness testimony coded to identify: values, issue definition(s), and affiliation

8. RELATIVELY STABLESYSTEM PARAMETERS 1) Basic attributes of the problem area (good) 2) Basic distribution of natural resources 3) Fundamental socio-cultural values and social structure 4) Basic constitutional structure (rules) POLICY SUBSYSTEM Coalition A Policy Brokers Coalition B a) Policy Beliefs a) Policy Beliefs b) Resources b) Resources Strategy A 1 Strategy B 1 re guidance re guidance instruments instruments Decisions by Governmental Authorities Institutional Rules, Resource Allocations, and Appointments Policy Outputs Policy Impacts Constraints and Resources of Subsystem Actors EXTERNAL (SYSTEM) EVENTS 1) Changes in socio-economic conditions 2) Changes in public opinion 3) Changes in systemic governing coalition 4) Policy decisions and impacts from other subsystems Advocacy Coalition Framework 2 ACF Components and interactions 1 – The Policy Subsystem 2 – Stable SystemParameters 3 – External Dynamic Events4 – Policy World Visualization 1 3

9. Within the Matrix: A Hermeneutic PhenomenologicalInvestigation of Student Experiencesin Web-based Computer Conferencing Part II - Demonstrations

10. Creating a Web Space • What possibilities could a web space uniquely offer to the representation of scholarly writing and qualitative research? • What would you have to take into consideration in creating such a space?

11. Creating a Webbed Space • Assumptions • Hermeneutics of Web Writing • Criteria for Evaluation • File Organization • Navigation • Orientation and Indexing • The Collective

12. Navigation • Menu Levels • Icons • Image Maps

13. Navigation • Menu Levels • Icons • Image Maps

14. Orientation & Indexing • Orientation • Image Maps • Information Box • Index

15. Evaluation Criteria • Hermeneutic Phenomenology • Content • Interactive Structure • Interface Design • Hyper-linking • Multimedia

16. Hermeneutic Phenomenology • Turning to the phenomenon. • Investigating experience as we live it. • Reflecting on the essential themes. • Describing the phenomenon through writing and rewriting. • Orientated pedagogical relation. • Balancing parts and whole. (van Manen, 1995)

17. Content The content is accurately represented in the combination of text, multimedia, and hypertext.

18. Interactive Structure • Reader is free to “chart alternative courses through the word mass [I] fabricate” (Taylor & Saarinen, 1994, p. 13). • The path choice is clear for the user. • The interactive structure is used to pace the reader.

19. Interface Design • Visually coherent. • Textual & visual elements blend. • “The work is riddled with gaps, spaces and openings that invite the reader to write” (Taylor & Saarinen). • Navigational conventions are easy to understand. • Reader has a sense of location. • Navigational system supports overall work. • Each screen follows basic graphic design principles.

20. Hyper-linking • Links within the “text” are well placed and connected. • Text is presented in the first four levels in manageable chunks and linked to other chunks.

21. Text is expressed as media through the use of font, placement, and size. Media is used to express ideas better than in words. Supports and adds to the understanding of the theme. Thoughtfully used to enhance a particular theme. Used to add novelty to representation of the content. Multimedia

22. The Collaborative Process

23. HyperNews Collaborative Space

25. Comparisons and Contributions Part III Role of Time Context Perspective Creative Process Contributions

26. Dwight Time is the primary constant in policy activities Time helps structure dynamic and complex activities Time, rather than policy frameworks, is linear All policy activity is time-dependent Paulette Capture immediacy in experience Deconstruct time to spatial rather than sequential (navigation) Context of screen time Pausing and pacing time through animation Time

27. Dwight Policy World visualizes the policy context In representing complexity, policy theory, policy issues, and policy change are simultaneously and visually deconstructed Context is represented by using graphic primitives, color, and movement Paulette Spatial/holographic Shapes as representative (lines, circles, squares) Images as containers for meaning Navigation Context

28. Dwight Perspective is provided by point of view (POV) POV can be altered by the viewer while constructing meaning POV can be from an internal or an external perspective Paulette Reader chooses preferences of perspective Reader created the experience every time If it had been possible, the reader becomes the writer Perspective

29. Dwight No previous models What is represented? Theory Evidence Possibilities How do you bring content into a virtual world? Visuals Auxiliary html pages Representation Paulette Ah-hah moment Drudging through the system Making the image real Iterative Creative Process

30. Dwight First policy oriented VR world Visualized context and dynamics of policy and institutional process Discovery-based learning approach to public policy, IRM, and eGovernment Paulette Creating a multifaceted experience through representing it in graphics—web hermeneutic Spatial design/navigation First of its kind Contributions

31. Questions and Discussion • Paulette Robinson – robinsonr@ndu.edu • http://www.otal.umd.edu/~paulette/Dissertation • Dwight Toavs – toavs@ndu.edu • ETD http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12222004-094635/