methods@manchester and UoM staff visit the Data Visualisation Observatory (DVO)
Last week saw 24 University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 members of staff take advantage of methods@manchester鈥檚 invitation to visit the Data Visualisation Observatory in AMBS as part of a new series of staff training events.
This session was organised to give colleagues a feel for the DVO itself and the kinds of projects and opportunities it offers.
It was led by and Laura Pemberton.
- Qudamah is a research fellow within AMBS and works directly supporting the observatory, developing the data visualisations for ongoing projects.
- Laura is an AMBS postgraduate researcher and has worked on a number of projects that have used the lab, including her PhD research.
So what is the DVO?
It鈥檚 a 3D, large-scale visualisation facility with 72 full HD screens. As such, there are opportunities for immersive data analytics and social network analysis, the building of digital twins, experiments and tracking studies, the list goes on鈥�
We were treated to a number of examples of what can be done. These included:
- A scenario based experiment: You are travelling to an airport, there is a public transport strike and you are offered the choice of an AI-driven or traditional person-driven taxi. Which would you choose?
How do various changes to this scenario such as the cost of the two options, the brand of the AI-driven car impact your choice? (e.g. are Volvos considered safer?) - A simulation to mimic the use of new technologies: Laura Pemberton鈥檚 PhD work concerns the potential of robots to assist elderly people in their homes.
Attitudes to different robot types ranging from 鈥榋iggy鈥�, with its futuristic design, to 鈥楰itty鈥�, a cute cat-like prototype, are measured through head tracking and other data capture methods (and yes there were a few involuntary 鈥渁wws鈥� at the cat!)
You can read more about Laura鈥檚 work in the .
Attendees came from across the University, including nursing, architecture, anthropology, geography, music, physic and astronomy, dentistry and politics. And with them came a rich diversity of ideas and questions.
Laura reflects:
I really enjoyed chatting with such a curious and engaged group about how the DVO could support their research. The questions were great鈥攆ull of interesting ideas and possibilities鈥攁nd it was exciting to see so much enthusiasm for exploring new ways to use it. It was also a great chance to showcase the capabilities of the DVO across the various research projects we鈥檝e got going on, showing just how versatile it can be.
Looking forward to seeing where these conversations lead.
If you鈥檇 like to find out more about the DVO, you can find out more on the DVO website, or if you have an idea you鈥檇 like to discuss please contact Qudamah directly at datavisualisationobservatory@manchester.ac.uk.
Our next staff training session is focused on Creative AI methods see the for more details and registration.
If you have ideas for research methods sessions you would like to see offered or that you would like to lead, please let us know.
To find out more about methods@manchester and connect with us visit our or email methods@manchester.ac.uk.