This project, acquiring a large-scale, interactive display for visualization, human computer interaction, and biological imaging research, services two primary research areas: human computer interaction (HCI) and biological imaging. The empirical investigation for HCI examines how a display wall changes user's perceptive and cognitive work patterns with visual data, and how these effects can be leveraged to increase user effectiveness in a variety of domains. This knowledge is then used to improve user efficiency through tailored interaction methods and user interfaces for display walls. For the latter, the high-resolution capabilities of the display wall in visualization and biomedical imaging are exploited. This application dove-tails the recent acquisition of a 3T MRI for the purpose of analyzing cognitive processes during problem solving.
Broader Impact: Housed in the Institute for Neurocognitive Science and Technology (INST), the equipment will contribute to provide graduates hands-on training in its use, capabilities, and limitations. The research training and outreach efforts utilizing the wall would educate students and the community in the technology and the ongoing research efforts at the university.
