Virtual Environments and Virtual Interfaces for Oceanographic and Meteorological Scientific Visualization

摘要

This research examined potential ways to optimize meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) analyst training and performance during mine counter measure (MCM) operational tasks. Virtual environments (VEs) and virtual interfaces were used as tools that support comprehension of sedimentation transport data. Novel techniques were developed for the visualization of sedimentation transport data. An interface for the visualization was also developed based on a cognitive task analysis of a sedimentation transport expert. In addition, three experiments were designed to examine the cognitive aspects (spatial cognition and comprehension of oceanographic data) of immersive VEs. The results revealed individual differences in the way people represent objects in space as they navigate in a VE and these differences have an impact on VE usability. As the level of immersion in the VE increased, scientists required more time and more hints to comprehend remotely sensed oceanographic data. The implications of these results are discussed.