How will the allosphere change how human beings interact with data?

This TED talk, about the allosphere, brings up stunning new ways for computer-generated visualization tools to enhance how people interact with data.

What is the allosphere?

  • A three story metal sphere in an echo-free chamber.
  • A large, dynamically varying digital microscope that’s connected to a supercomputer.
  • A way for scientists to visualize microscopic relationships and events.

I remember reading about a math professor of a graduate class at Dartmouth. He taught complex topology equations, and he learned that even graduate math students had trouble learning the material. He realized that if they first played with bubbles, if they were able to visualize and make connections with the relationship between network nodes and the variety of possible pathways to them, they were much better able to learn, understand, and apply the mathematic principles he was teaching. Good visualization tools often lead scientists to new understanding and new discovery. It seems to me that this system, created collaboratively by artists, engineers, and scientists can lead to great leaps in understanding of our the inner workings of the world. Perhaps an example is helpful.

visualization of hydrogen zinc atomic bond

an allosphere visualization

This screen capture is a visualization of the bond between a hydrogen atom and zinc atoms (blue). The yellow lines, generated by artists, are tied to the electron flow and help scientists visualize the bond. An overlaid sound indicates the emission spectrums of each atom. These visual and auditory effects are tied to actual data obtained from and about the molecule.   Twenty scientists can stand on a bridge inside of this visualization. They can explore it, experience it, manipulate it, and learn from it.

From the HCI perspective:

This is a great leap. And what a powerful way for humans to experience scientific information, incorporating all the senses. What an interesting way for artists, scientists, and engineers to collaborate on a project of their own design to find ways to visualize and experience data. The fact that a group of people can experience and talk about this visualization in real time means that great collaborations are possible.

Aside what can be learned through the experiments that are carried out in this environment, I think about what the team is learning as they develop the environment itself. The supercomputer that is monitoring and displaying the data is an accomplishment in and of itself. The collaboration of artists in a seriously scientific environment opens doors to other rich collaborations between artistic visualization tools and computer software developers. This idea opens up whole new worlds to the way we use computers and their accompanying interfaces to work, learn, and to understand our world. Since miniaturization is a constant in the computer world, I am wondering when small, possibly portable devices like this will be available to immerse students in worlds and simulations they would never be able to experience otherwise.

Last, TED talks are simply awesome and inspiring. If this topic doesn’t get your creative ideas flowing, just visit the site. You will find some talk that amazes and inspires.