Spherical displays are increasingly being used to present global data visualizations to support Earth science education in informal learning settings such as museums. However, most spherical displays deployed to date either support no interactivity or interaction only via an external touchscreen. Only recently have spherical displays become commercially available that can support multi-touch gesture interactivity. Family groups visiting museums can gather around these displays to collaboratively explore global science datasets simultaneously. However, the use of multi-touch spherical displays as an educational tool is relatively new and a deeper knowledge of how to design interactions for spherical touch surfaces to support collaborative learning has not been explored yet. Through my thesis work, I will explore how to design gestural interactions for multi-touch spherical displays to support collaborative learning from interactive science data visualizations in museums.

With the widespread adoption of digital design and fabrication technologies, architects have been looking for ways to connect virtual and physical design platforms. Previous research offers a limited perspective on the feedback exchange between physical and digital modes of design. My doctoral research looks into the changing role of physical methods with the ongoing digitalization in architecture. The research has been progressing through research prototypes and interviews. Produced prototypes correlate tangible outcomes with the theoretical framework established during the first year of my studies. By introducing a feedback-oriented design approach, linking physical and digital tools, this work aims to enhance initial design processes in architecture and facilitate creative programmatic solutions for architects.

In my PhD, I aim at developing a reach-through volumetric display where points of light are emitted from each 3d position of the display volume, and yet it allows people to introduce their hands inside to directly interact with the rendered content. Here, I present TomoLit, an inverse tomographic display, where multiple emitters project rays of different intensities for each angle, rendering a target image in mid-air. We have analyzed the effect on image quality of the number of emitters, their locations, the angular resolution and the levels of intensities. We have developed a simple emitter and we are in the process of putting together multiple of them. And what I plan to do next, e.g. moving from 2D to 3D and exploring interaction techniques. The feedback obtained in this symposium will clearly dissipate some of my doubts and guide my research career.