GCSP research stipend | Spring 2023

Data Visualization in Virtual Reality

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The recent and rapid development of virtual reality technology has had a big impact in the entertainment industry. However, its benefits can likewise be reaped in educational settings by designing immersive learning experiences that enable engagement, strengthen understanding and improve retention of content. Facilitating the adoption of VR within classrooms requires bridging the instructors’ traditional teaching practices with the 3D space. This project focuses on using the Unity game engine to curate tools and frameworks that can transform professors’ traditional visualization (MATLAB, GeoGebra, CSV files, Python data) formats into transformable and interactive graphs in a virtual environment. Additionally, accommodative tools such as tracking and plotting student engagement within the VR space are also being developed.

Student researcher

Neha Balamurugan

Computer science

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2024