Virtual globes have been commonly used for visualizing global data with various visual representations
Tangible globes on the other hand, provide tactility that we can't find on virtual globes
but they always show the same information.
With current AR technologies we can enhance tangible globe with virtual data representations. Our project explore this uncharted area.
Current AR headset is not capable of precisely tracking the tangible globe in 3d space.
Therefore, we used external tracking system and assembled our custom tangible globes using 3d printed spheres
some electronics and custom globe gores. We created small tangible globes in light and dark styles
that have no visible tracking markers and can be charged wirelessly. Once our system is calibrated
the opportunities for designing tangible globe visualization in AR is virtually limitless .
We narrowed down the design space and considered factors such as reference frame, orientation, multiplicity,
and size. From the design space we formulated three categories of use cases that we call tangible -virtual interplay
The first category in tangible-virtual interplay is augmented globes.
In this category we grouped use cases where the tangible globe serves as the main information space that
is augmented by virtual objects. There are four use cases in this category: geographic flows, composite
charts, hidden hemisphere, and moon, which vary in the type of virtual data representations and their
position and rotation relative to the tangible globe. Geographic flows use case places virtual
elements on the surface of the globe. Composite charts arrange virtual element around the globe.
Hidden hemisphere places a virtual globe on the side of the tangible globe.
And the moon example demonstrates how data representations can be overlaid on
the tangible globe surface.
The second category is tangible globe input.
This category consists of use cases where tangible globe is mainly used as a controller for visual data representations.
Examples include large virtual globe, 3D small multiples, and spherical rotation.
Large virtual globe use case demonstrates how tangible globe rotations can be coupled with
a large virtual globe visualization such as *exocentric* globe of earthquake data as
well as an egocentric globe of the same data.
Tangible globe can also be used to control small multiple visualizations which is a common visualization technique for multivariate data the
Last example is a 2D virtual map. Although map is a 2D information space it is a result of projection
of a 3D globe and controlling its center point can be considered a spherical 3D rotation.
Our last category is for use cases where information visualization is shared
between the tangible globe and virtual data representations, creating a complex interplay.
Demonstrating this category is a visualization of COVID19 data where
a user is holding an augmented globe showing population density and virtual charts such as
scatter plots and bar charts are placed in the surrounding space. When the user brings
the globe to the proximity of the charts visual link appears to connect these two visualizations
Further information including qualitative
evaluations and designs for the user interaction can be found in our paper.