VRIA: A Web-Based Framework for Creating Immersive Analytics Experiences

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Data Visualization

Background:

• Immersive Analytics (IA) leverages virtual reality (VR) for data analysis.
• Developing VR IA experiences traditionally requires specialized expertise and tools.
• There is a need for accessible, web-based solutions for creating IA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce VRIA, a novel framework for creating web-based VR IA experiences.
• To enable users of varying expertise to rapidly develop IA visualizations.
• To promote the use of open-standards web technologies for ubiquitous IA.

Main Methods:

• VRIA is built using WebVR, A-Frame, React, and D3.js.
• It employs a visualization creation workflow leveraging the HTML Document Object Model (DOM).
• Progressive enhancement via WebVR ensures accessibility across diverse devices.

Main Results:

• VRIA facilitates the creation of ubiquitous and platform-independent VR IA experiences.
• The framework integrates seamlessly with popular web visualization libraries.
• Use cases demonstrate the framework's versatility and features.

Conclusions:

• VRIA offers a powerful, accessible solution for developing web-based VR IA.
• The framework's reliance on open standards enhances its reach and usability.
• Future work includes addressing limitations and exploring further extensions.