WebXR Spatialized Dataverse Interface
Charity Everett
I'm excited to propose a new contribution to Harvard Dataverse that would enable researchers to create immersive, spatialized data visualizations using WebXR technology. This would allow users to explore datasets in 3D/VR environments through a browser, potentially enhancing data comprehension and analysis capabilities.
## Project Overview
The proposed tool would:
* Allow users to upload datasets and transform them into spatialized environments
* Enable interactive exploration of data in WebXR using A-Frame
* Integrate with existing Dataverse architecture and metadata
* Support both desktop and VR headset viewing
## Why WebXR?
WebXR visualization could be particularly valuable for:
* Geospatial datasets that inherently have a 3D component
* Complex multi-dimensional data that benefits from spatial representation
* Datasets where relationships between variables are difficult to perceive in 2D
## Community Input Needed
To ensure this tool meets the needs of the Dataverse community, I've created a short survey to gather your input on priorities and requirements. Your feedback will directly shape the development of this tool.
Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeA7CLIQmxjsEWEUbRGqGS637iZZ_lAGZ4Kt7R7cByESzmBLQ/viewform?usp=sharing
The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete, and your responses will help determine which data types to prioritize and what visualization features would be most valuable.
Thank you for your time and input!
Charity Everett
Philipp Conzett
Thank you for reaching out to the community and for proposing a new contribution!
You wrote that this would be a new contribution to Harvard Dataverse. Just for clarification: Would this feature / these features only be available for the Harvard Dataverse (https://dataverse.harvard.edu/), or more generally for the Dataverse application (https://dataverse.org/)?
Best,
Philipp
Charity Everett
Philipp Conzett
Charity Everett
Hello everyone,
I’m excited to share a progress update on our Dataverse XR initiative and invite your continued interest and involvement!
The plan so far is to create an immersive, space themed 3D visualization of all of the datasets in the Dataverse that organizes datasets into ‘galaxies’ of similar datasets. Hopefully we can then use this visualization to build some stories and experiences that allow people to embark on a voyage through the Dataverse!
What We’ve Accomplished So Far:
WebXR “Space” Prototype: Together with Robert Christie (rockstar), we’ve developed an immersive WebXR environment where Dataverse datasets are visualized as stars in a galaxy. This prototype allows users to intuitively explore research collections in 3D, making data discovery more engaging and accessible. Right now it is simply when you click on a star, it shows some of the data. We are using React 3f VR for this. You can find the prototype here: http://dataverse-viewer.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ .
Open Collaboration: This work remains open, and we welcome input from anyone interested in UX, data visualization, metadata, or related areas. Find the github here: https://github.com/BertCh/dataverse .
What’s Next:
We’re continuing to refine the space-based visualization, aiming to make it more interactive and useful for researchers and the community.
Defining the user journey.
Creating UX/UI.
There’s also an exciting direction involving intelligent agents to enhance the experience-more details coming soon!
Special Thanks:
A huge thank you to Robert Christie for his outstanding technical and creative contributions, and to Philip Durbin and the Dataverse team for fostering such an open and innovative environment.
If you’d like to get involved, have ideas, or want to test the prototype, please reply here or reach out directly. We’re eager to collaborate as we move into the next phase!
EARLY NOTES:
Best,
Charity Everett