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PSMEM Data Visualization and Education. Bill Winn 1,3 Fritz Stahr 2 Christian Sarason 2 Peter Oppenheimer 3 Ruth Fruland 1,3 Yen-Ling Lee 1 1 - UW College of Education 2 – Ocean Inquiry Project (OIP) 3 - UW Human Interface Technology Lab (HITL). GOALS & ACTIVITIES
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PSMEM Data Visualization and Education Bill Winn1,3 Fritz Stahr2 Christian Sarason2 Peter Oppenheimer3 Ruth Fruland1,3 Yen-Ling Lee1 1 - UW College of Education 2 – Ocean Inquiry Project (OIP) 3 - UW Human Interface Technology Lab (HITL)
GOALS & ACTIVITIES • Develop web interface to model output (see Christian’s talk or OIP webpage). • Improve and make broadly useful Virtual Puget Sound (VPS), a 3D visualization of Puget Sound POM model, previously developed at HITL. • Study effectiveness of VPS (and models in general) for learning oceanography of Puget Sound. • Use PSMEM partnership products for education and outreach.
Virtual Puget Sound (VPS) An interactive 3D visualization of Puget Sound POM model data
Development Phase 1 Immersive VPS • Developed under prior grants to study the effectiveness of complete (electronic) “immersion” in complex environments, for bringing about conceptual change in students. • Built on an SGI Onyx super-mini computer using Virtual Reality technology – tracked head-mounted display and hand motions.
Immersive VPS • Used two parameters from POM output: Water movement and salinity. • Studies show it helps students learn, especially about dynamic 3D processes. • Only available at HITL. User “inside” model User “reaches out” to touch controls
Development Phase 2 Desktop VPS (version 1) • Developed by PSMEM partners to spread VPS more broadly, i.e. into classrooms and labs. • First purpose was to create an instructional tool. • Added new features such as cut-planes, and “neap-tide” day data file. • Ported to PC environment with Windows graphic user interface. • [Note: Used same set of parameters - low resolution, currents and salinity].
Desktop Instructional Use • Collaboration with Ocean Inquiry Project and instructors. • Used for education and study of UW and Seattle Central CC intro. oceanography classes, Spring and Fall, 2003. • Collected data on what VPS and field experience contributed to learning. Students taking “data” in VPS Students taking data on OIP field trip.
Development Phase 3 Desktop VPS (version 2) • Designed to allow full exploration of model output by partners and others, and to allow more general netCDF input. • Primary purpose is scientific visualization, but also allows much more extensive and flexible educational use. • Nearly released – beta version may be available downstairs even now!
Desktop Data Visualization • All parameters available on cut-planes with adjustable ranges. Spatial resolution shown is adjustable. • Allows any day of POM data to be worked with. • Features include multicolored particle tracking, horizontal cut-plane, easier-to-use mouse & keyboard interface, etc.
Next Steps • Complete VPS-PC version 2.0 with file import and data vis. tools – release for partnership use. • Build more curriculum around VPS for oceanography (and other) students. • Make desktop version immersive (i.e., with new features, and head and hand tracking.) • Continue educational studies of how VPS helps students understand the PS environment (e.g., work planned with oceanographers and teachers this quarter and with grades 4 – 6 this summer).
And now, please join us downstairs in the Spatial Analysis Lab (OSB-111) for: • Lunch • Demonstration and use of Partnership tools, including: • Virtual Puget Sound • PSMEM web-based database interface • Aquatic BiogeoChemistry Cycling model