An Information-Theoretic Approach to the Cost-benefit Analysis of Visualization in Virtual Environments.

Area of Science:

• Visual Computing
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Information Theory

Background:

• Visualization and virtual environments (VEs) have historically developed in parallel within visual computing.
• While VEs can enhance visualization, their high development and operational costs prevent widespread adoption.
• Many visualization applications have not yet leveraged the full potential of VEs due to these cost barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a cost-benefit analysis of typical virtual environment systems.
• To determine factors influencing the benefit of VEs for specific visualization applications.
• To propose future directions for developing visualization applications within VEs.

Main Methods:

• Information-theoretic perspective for analyzing VE cost-benefits.
• Review of literature in cognitive sciences, visualization, and VEs.
• Cost-benefit analysis of augmented reality, mixed reality, theater-based systems, and powerwalls.

Main Results:

• Identified key factors determining the differential benefits of VEs for various visualization tasks.
• Provided an information-theoretic framework for evaluating VE cost-effectiveness.
• Highlighted the gap between VE potential and practical application due to economic constraints.

Conclusions:

• Future development of visualization in VEs should strategically align application needs with VE capabilities and costs.
• An information-theoretic approach offers valuable insights into optimizing VE investments for visualization.
• Bridging the cost-benefit gap is crucial for unlocking the full potential of VEs in scientific visualization.