Before there was any data visualization or analytical tools, there was the plain old spreadsheet. We could visualize data in the form of plaintext and numbers. Then came the advent of graphs and charts that helped to visualize data in a format other than numbers. Today data visualization is in the form of AR & VR.
The world of data visualization is reaching a breakthrough. Various web-browsers enable access to the client’s AR/VR devices to become cost-friendly.
They act as unconfined channels for the narrative of data are expanding into the virtual world. It is a step to provide businesses and professionals the capability to understand the applications.
This enables data visualization in VR or AR as they are beginning to grow in popularity.
We bring to you AR and VR data visualization software & tools. Along with some extra solutions that enable developers to build their own virtual data visualization experiences. Also, some learning of Data Visualization Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
Virtualitics considers itself as “A Powerful Solution for Explainable AI.” It enables its technology: AI as a Service.
It can take data hundreds of variables, to reduce those dimensions to a handful of data-points. They also suggest the best 3D visualization to represent the output.
Currently, Virtualitics is one of the top leaders in the AR/VR space. Virtualitics also insert geospatial data in saturated 3D maps. For example:
- Data of a global company valuation as a subset of the entire market.
- Historical and current seismic activity in the Pacific Ocean.
- The valuation of different companies can be projected onto a globe.
- Creating presentations that rely on the familiar visual cornerstone or primary data.
Flow is one of the platforms that is currently trending for many professionals. It made itself famous by going viral on TikTok.
The data story and the entire framework catches attention due to its accessibility via the WebXR Device API available in many web browsers.
All devices with web browsers, from phones to dedicated AR/VR devices, can run the interactive and connected experience.
It is also a self-provide tool, where a user uploads data, creates visualizations and adds a checklist for the conversions.
It believes that data doesn’t explain itself, and it needs to tell engaging, understandable stories with immersive data visualization in virtual reality.
Along with dynamic storytelling technologies that work across all devices and on all browsers.
Another Data visualization in AR firm that highlights its data visualization in augmented reality platform is Texas-based 3Data. 3Data was founded in 2016, and it was initially called DatavizVR.
3Data has a Virtual Operations Center that integrates AR and VR with Data Science. It also has real-time data analytics to allow remote teams to work together.
It developed a product in AR/VR space to track an enterprise-level computer network for Cisco.
Enterprise IT and Cybersecurity operations are its primary focus. It displays hundreds of data points about devices being used in the company.
Their platform demo shows a virtual assistant called “Apollo” that follows voice commands. 3Data’s Data Fusion platform cross-correlates all alerts, logs, and sensor data.
This feature allows the IT Teams to predict maintenance, detect & respond to threats, reducing downtime, and mitigating risk in one unified 3D space.
BadVR is concentrated on sectors like telecom, smart cities, and marketing. Its major use-case is visualizing wi-fi signals with headsets.
A 2019 grant-funding press release helps a project with National Science Foundation visualize and scan many geospatial datasets.
They have developed an AR app called SeeSignal. The app gathers data about radio frequency signals from cell phones, home routers, and wireless devices. This is achieved by using data spatialization, machine learning, and data science.
Geospatial data is a well-known application for visualization in immersive analytics. The client can zoom-out to get an extensive overview or zoom-in to get a detailed report of the area’s data set.
Another essential technology in AR/VR data visualization space is the ability to create a digital twin. A digital twin allows more than one client/user to virtually inspect the physical area and the related data together in real-time.
Llama Zoo Interactive’s crown-jewel product is MineLife VR, a VR platform representing an almost true-to-scale 3D representation of a mine using complex geospatial algorithms and mine planning data.
This model is close to how we should use VR and AR in the future of construction-planning. Mining, Oil and Gas, and mining sectors need an immersive technology used by many compared to traditionally non-interoperable software.
They are particular in centralizing complex geospatial data to derive accessible, actionable meaning.
Here are some of the data visualization libraries that we can use in the AR/VR space.
The goal is to make it easier for everyone, including non-programmers, to enable the VR experiences by themselves, no matter what device they have.
WebVR is chosen as the best source for this cause. WebVR is an exploratory JavaScript API that assists any virtual reality device.
It is an open-specification that helps it to run VR programs in the web browser. One needs two things: an AR/VR headset and an adaptable web-browser.
A-Frame is one of the essential frameworks for constructing immersive AR exposure. A-Frame is created upon the HTML layer, making it easier to work with.
But A-Frame is not just a 3D graph-maker or a programming language. The core is a powerful element-based framework that provides a robust, scalable structure to three.js.
A-Frame can be developed from a plaintext HTML file without downloading any external 3rd party files or software.
A-Frame is constructed in the same way as the DOM model, so most libraries & frameworks work with it.
D3.js, which is a JavaScript library, is used for operating programs elicited solely on statistics. D3 helps data represent in a visual format using HTML, SVG, and CSS.
D3’s gives importance to web standards provides users with the exclusive features of modern browsers without burdening proprietary framework. It combines impressive visualization elements and a data-driven approach to DOM (Document Object Model) working.
E.g., D3.js can generate an HTML table from an array of numbers. Also, it utilizes data to generate an SVG bar graph with clear transformation and interaction.
IBM too is one of the leaders in the data visualization space with IBM Immersive Data. One can search the database in several dimensions by integrating with IBM Watson Studios.
Data scientists utilize Immersive Data at several phases during this process. They tend to spend an immense amount of time and energy trying to present the findings of their effort.
The majority of the data operation, processing, and analysis would still take place in spreadsheets. 3D visualizations are a vital step that enables the user to see their work’s effects, concludes their research, and further examines.
Data scientists and analysts share their findings and cooperate with their teammates regularly.
People are looking forward to understanding immersive data as an instrument of presentation.
Data visualization specialists want the visualizations in virtual reality, to take their audience on an immersive journey. They feel that 3D visualizations will tell a logical and complex story about the data.
It will also allow the stakeholder and investors to engage and understand much better.
Conclusion
Data visualization in VR process more immersive and interactive, helping users to view data from a different standpoint.
AR/VR is changing data visualization from a simple activity into a wholesome experience. The innovative virtual environment provided by AR/VR experiences enables people to step into a world of data. It will help people see the layers of datasets that one could not have explained in a spreadsheet format.
By using AR and VR to visualize data, many businesses can lessen the gap between theory and practice. It will speed up the development in performance, and in the process, lead to positive results.
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