Visualização de informação

O relatório está dividido em duas partes. Na primeira parte, é abordado o problema da visualização exactamente no que diz respeito à subtil correlação existente entre as técnicas (e respectivas metáforas), o utilizador e os dados. Na segunda parte, são analisadas algumas aplicações, projectos, ferramentas e sistemas de Visualização de Informação. Para categorizalos, serão considerados sete tipos de dados básicos subjacentes a eles: unidimensional, bidimensional, tridimensional, multi-dimensional, temporal, hierárquico, rede e workspace.O tema deste relatório é a visualização da informação. Esta é uma área actualmente muito activa e vital no ensino, na pesquisa e no desenvolvimento tecnológico. A ideia básica é utilizar imagens geradas pelo computador como meio para se obter uma maior compreensão e apreensão da informação que está presente nos dados (geometria) e suas relações (topologia). É um conceito simples, porém poderoso que tem criado imenso impacto em diversas áreas da engenharia e ciência.The theme of this report is information visualization. Nowadays, this is a very active and vital area of research, teaching and development. The basic idea of using computer generated pictures to gain information and understanding from data and relationships is the key concept behind it. This is an extremely simple, but very important concept which is having a powerful impact on methodology of engineering and science. This report is consisted of two parts. The first one, is an overview of the subtle correlation between the visual techniques, the user perception and the data. In the second part, several computer applications, tools, projects and information visualization systems are analyzed. In order to categorize them, seven basic types of data are considered: onedimensional, two- dimensional, three-dimensional, multidimensional, temporal, hierarchic, network and workspace

Multimedia Technology and 3D Environments used in the Preservation and Dissemination of Portuguese Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage is an extremely valuable set of materiality, traditions and knowledge from the Past that should be used to better understand the Past itself. However, even nowadays there are still some difficulties to manage, preserve and disseminate cultural heritage sites. The usage of multimedia technology and 3D environments in cultural heritage has reduced these difficulties; nonetheless, there are still some remaining problems. In the last years, some multimedia technology and 3D environments have been applied to the cultural heritage in Portugal. A few of them are used for scientific research purposes and others are used for dissemination purposes. In this article, the authors will refer to some representative Portuguese case studies using Virtual Environments to maintain, preserve and promote Cultural Heritage. A critical reading of these projects will be made in order to stress out their success and to point out their weaknesses and limitations

Collaborative multimodal authoring of virtual worlds

This work aims the creation of virtual worlds by working teams with resource to advanced interaction techniques, such as speech commands and gestures, as well as the resource to portable devices. The physical characteristics of virtual reality environments lead us to a different kind of user interfaces. However, we found some usefulness on the classic WIMP paradigm, which we also apply by using a PDA, in order to complement the interaction possibilities. In terms of application description we use the Virtual Reality Modeling Language. One of the main goals is the separation/combination of VRML files in order to allow the work to be cared out individually by the members of the team, and later combine the results to produce the global virtual world

Collaborative multimodal authoring of virtual worlds

This work aims the creation of virtual worlds by working teams with resource to advanced interaction techniques, such as speech commands and gestures, as well as the resource to portable devices. The physical characteristics of virtual reality environments lead us to a different kind of user interfaces. However, we found some usefulness on the classic WIMP paradigm, which we also apply by using a PDA, in order to complement the interaction possibilities. In terms of application description we use the Virtual Reality Modeling Language. One of the main goals is the separation/combination of VRML files in order to allow the work to be cared out individually by the members of the team, and later combine the results to produce the global virtual world.O objectivo deste trabalho é a criação de mundos virtuais por equipas de trabalho com recurso a técnicas avançadas de interacção, tais como comandos de fala e gestos, e a dispositivos móveis. As características físicas dos ambientes de realidade virtual conduzem-nos a diferentes tipos de interfaces de utilizador. Contudo, encontramos certa utilidade no clássico paradigma WIMP, que é utilizado recorrendo a um PDA, para complementar as possibilidades de interacção. Em termos de descrição da aplicação utilizamos a linguagem de modelação para realidade virtual – VRML. Um dos principais objectivos consiste na separação/combinação de arquivos VRML para permitir o trabalho individual a cada um dos elementos da equipa, e posteriormente a combinação de resultados para produzir o mundo virtual global.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Multimedia kiosks and the ancient times : an archaeological reconstruction and history of Braga’s cathedral

Ein vom CCG, in Kooperation mit der Unidade de Arqueologia da Universidade do Minho – UAUM (Portugal), entwickelter Multimedia Kiosk präsentiert auf mehreren thematischen Ebenen die Kathedrale und die mit ihr verbundenen archäologischen Ausgrabungen. Zu jeder Ausgrabungsstätte ist der Fortgang der archäologischen Arbeiten durch kurze Textbeschreibungen, Fotografien und Zeichnungen dokumentiert. Ein Modell der Kathedrale lädt zu einem virtuellen Rundgang ein. Ziel der Präsentation ist es, nicht nur Finanzmittel für die Fortführung der archäologischen Arbeiten einzuwerben bzw. das Interesse potentieller Sponsoren zu wecken, aber auch den Besuchern der Kathedrale eine bessere und interessantere Übersicht der Geschichte des Gebäudes zu geben

Aplicações móveis de valor acrescentado : um caso prático

Mobile technologies are going through a massification process, assuming themselves as tools to be used in any situation or place. The fast evolution of these type of technologies, will allow for the attribution of a higher level of mobility of remote services and contents, making use of mobile devices such as PDA’s or cellular phones. This article will present a practical case of a value added mobile application developed in the context of a R&D project named VADE - Value Added Environments for Dynamic Support to Location-Based Services in UMTS Networks.As tecnologias moveis estão a passar por um processo de massificação, assumindo-se como ferramentas a serem usadas em qualquer situação ou local. A rápida evolução deste tipo de tecnologias, irá permitir atribuir um elevado nível de mobilidade a serviços e conteúdos remotos, fazendo uso de dispositivos moveis como PDA’s ou telefones móveis. No presente artigo será apresentado um caso prático de uma aplicação móvel de valor acrescentado desenvolvida no contexto de um projecto de I&D denominado de VADE - Value Added Environments for Dynamic Support to Location-Based Services in UMTS Networks

NUVE : in between the analog and virtual body

NUVE is an artistic project that aims to explore the artistic possibilities offered by the digital dance performances in the interaction between the individual and his virtual double. In NUVE we conceptualized, developed and implemented a digital artifact, resulting in a fluid digital performance based on the theme of the analog body versus the digital virtual body

TORGA.net: the trans Portugal-Galicia communication network

The Trans Portugal Galicia Network Project, TORGA.net, was a proposal to the Program Interregional IIIA, Galicia – North of Portugal sub-program with the following partners: University of Minho, University of Vigo, Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia and the Centro de Computação Gráfica in Guimarães. It has as its main objective the creation of infrastructures and the organization and development of the space beyond borders. The project proposes to establish a broadband communication network with reduced operational costs that links the campuses of the Universities of Vigo and Minho, as well as their associated Technological Centers, which are the Supercomputación de Galicia and the Centro de Computação Gráfica in Guimarães. Using this telecommunications infrastructure, Access Centers will be installed in a Technology Access Grid, which will allow distance work sessions such as seminars, lessons, or discussion meetings.Momentan arbeiten die Bildungs-, Forschungs- und Entwicklungs- Einrichtungen von Galicien und dem Norden von Portugal nur gelegentlich und auf einzelne Projekte beschränkt zusammen, obwohl sich längst herausgestellt hat, welche Synergien aus dieser Kooperation entstehen. Auf Grund dessen sieht das Torga.net Projekt die Implementierung einer Breitband- Kommunikations-Infrastruktur vor. Diese wird die Problematik, die durch die geringe Zusammenarbeit beider Regionen entsteht, reduzieren und den Zugang und das Teilen von Wissen erleichtern. Aufbauend auf dieser Kommunikationsplattform sind Lösungen der kooperativen Arbeit vorgesehen. Videokonferenzen und E-Learning dienen dabei als Unterstützung für dieb Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Institutionen beiderseits der Grenzen.União Europeia (UE) - Interregional IIIA, Galicia – North of Portugal Program - Direcção-Geral do Desenvolvimento Regional Secretaria de Estado de Presupuestos y Gastos

Aplicações móveis de valor acrescentado: um caso prático

As tecnologias móveis estão a passar por um processo de massificação, assumindo-se como ferramentas a serem usadas em qualquer situação ou local. A rápida evolução deste tipo de tecnologias, irá permitir atribuir um elevado nível de mobilidade a serviços e conteúdos remotos, fazendo uso de dispositivos móveis como PDA’s ou telefones móveis. No presente artigo será apresentado um caso prático de uma aplicação móvel de valor acrescentado desenvolvida no contexto de um projecto de I&D denominado de VADE -Value Added Environments for Dynamic Support to Location-Based Services in UMTS Network

Supporting Information Visualization Through Topic Maps

We are living a phenomenon of accelerated information production with different accessing sources. Hence users are faced with a growing problem: accessing (navigation) and filtering specific information contained in large datasets, which are increasing in size. Procedures such as data filtering and gathering are now simplified through a new concept known as Topic Maps. The application of Virtual Reality technologies enables to present and interact with multidimensional information in a 3D space. In this paper we present INSPHERE, a new visual metaphor for information visualization, based on both, Virtual Reality techniques, and “geographical information maps” provided by Topic Maps