Research has shown that when a group of people collaborate in decision-making scenarios, they can be more effective than when they work alone. Studies also show that in a data analytics context, using immersive technologies could make users perform better in data understanding, pattern recognition, and finding connections. In this work, we are leveraging previous knowledge in Collaborative Immersive Analytics (CIA) and Cross-virtuality Analytics (XVA) to develop an asymmetric system that enables two groups from different places on the Virtuality-Reality spectrum to simultaneously work on analyzing data. We divide users into two groups: the nonimmersive desktop group and the immersive AR group. These two groups can both author and modify visualizations in their virtuality and share it with the other group when they see fit. For this, we designed a seamless interface for both groups to transform a visualization from non-immersive 2D to immersive AR and vice-versa. We also provide multiple awareness cues in the system that keep either group aware of the other and their actions. We designed these features to boost user performance and ease of use in a collaborative setting and incentivize them to rely on the other group for visualization tasks that are difficult to perform on their end of the virtuality spectrum. Our limited pilot study shows that users find the system engaging, easy to use, and helpful in their data-understanding journey within a collaborative context. Going forward, we plan to conduct more rigorous studies to verify our claims and explore other research questions on this topic.
Recent work in immersive analytics suggests benefits for systems that support work across both 2D and 3D data visualizations, i.e., cross-virtuality analytics systems. Here, we introduce HybridAxes, an immersive visual analytics system that enables users to conduct their analysis either in 2D on desktop monitors or in 3D within an immersive AR environment - while enabling them to seamlessly switch and transfer their graphs between modes. Our user study results show that the cross-virtuality sub-systems in HybridAxes complement each other well in helping the users in their data-understanding journey. We show that users preferred using the AR component for exploring the data, while they used the desktop to work on more detail-intensive tasks. Despite encountering some minor challenges in switching between the two virtuality modes, users consistently rated the whole system as highly engaging, user-friendly, and helpful in streamlining their analytics processes. Finally, we present suggestions for designers of cross-virtuality visual analytics systems and identify avenues for future work.
Throughout the visual analytics process, users create visualizations with different dimensionalities. Research shows that in this process users benefit from being able to simultaneously see 2D and 3D modes of their data visualizations. Towards supporting this potential need, we introduce HybridAxes, an immersive visual analytics tool that allows the users to conduct their analysis at either end of the Reality-Virtuality continuum - either in 2D on desktop monitors or 3D in an immersive AR/VR environment - while enabling them to seamlessly switch between the two modes. We believe that by using our system, users will find it easier and faster to understand and analyze multi-dimensional data. An initial pilot test indicates positive trends in terms of users' performance time and usability metrics compared to the standalone desktop or AR/VR counterparts. Our preliminary results also suggest that users experience a lower cognitive load while task-switching between these virtuality modes. This reduction in mental effort causes them to perceive the system to be unobtrusive and pleasant to work with. Going forward, we plan to conduct more rigorous studies to verify our claims and to explore other research questions on this topic.
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