Molecumentary: Adaptable Narrated Documentaries Using Molecular Visualization

Information

• Publication Type: Journal Paper with Conference Talk
• Workgroup(s)/Project(s):
  • Visualization Group
• Date: November 2021
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics
• Volume: 1
• Open Access: yes
• Note: To appear (Early Access)
• Lecturer: David Kouřil
• Event: IEEE Vis 2022
• DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2021.3130670
• Call for Papers: Call for Paper
• Conference date: 15. November 2021
• Pages: 1 – 1
• Keywords: Virtual tour, audio, biological data, storytelling, illustrative visualization

Abstract

We present a method for producing documentary-style content using real-time scientific visualization. We introduce molecumentaries, i.e., molecular documentaries featuring structural models from molecular biology, created through adaptable methods instead of the rigid traditional production pipeline. Our work is motivated by the rapid evolution of scientific visualization and it potential in science dissemination. Without some form of explanation or guidance, however, novices and lay-persons often find it difficult to gain insights from the visualization itself. We integrate such knowledge using the verbal channel and provide it along an engaging visual presentation. To realize the synthesis of a molecumentary, we provide technical solutions along two major production steps: (1) preparing a story structure and (2) turning the story into a concrete narrative. In the first step, we compile information about the model from heterogeneous sources into a story graph. We combine local knowledge with external sources to complete the story graph and enrich the final result. In the second step, we synthesize a narrative, i.e., story elements presented in sequence, using the story graph. We then traverse the story graph and generate a virtual tour, using automated camera and visualization transitions. We turn texts written by domain experts into verbal representations using text-to-speech functionality and provide them as a commentary. Using the described framework, we synthesize fly-throughs with descriptions: automatic ones that mimic a manually authored documentary or semi-automatic ones which guide the documentary narrative solely through curated textual input.

Additional Files and Images

Weblinks

• Entry in reposiTUm (TU Wien Publication Database)
• Entry in the publication database of TU-Wien
• DOI: 10.1109/TVCG.2021.3130670

BibTeX

@article{kouril-2021-molecumentary,
  title =      "Molecumentary: Adaptable Narrated Documentaries Using
               Molecular Visualization",
  author =     "David Kou\v{r}il and Ondrej Strnad and Peter Mindek and
               Sarkis Halladjian and Tobias Isenberg and Eduard Gr\"{o}ller
               and Ivan Viola",
  year =       "2021",
  abstract =   "We present a method for producing documentary-style content
               using real-time scientific visualization. We introduce
               molecumentaries, i.e., molecular documentaries featuring
               structural models from molecular biology, created through
               adaptable methods instead of the rigid traditional
               production pipeline. Our work is motivated by the rapid
               evolution of scientific visualization and it potential in
               science dissemination. Without some form of explanation or
               guidance, however, novices and lay-persons often find it
               difficult to gain insights from the visualization itself. We
               integrate such knowledge using the verbal channel and
               provide it along an engaging visual presentation. To realize
               the synthesis of a molecumentary, we provide technical
               solutions along two major production steps: (1) preparing a
               story structure and (2) turning the story into a concrete
               narrative. In the first step, we compile information about
               the model from heterogeneous sources into a story graph. We
               combine local knowledge with external sources to complete
               the story graph and enrich the final result. In the second
               step, we synthesize a narrative, i.e., story elements
               presented in sequence, using the story graph. We then
               traverse the story graph and generate a virtual tour, using
               automated camera and visualization transitions. We turn
               texts written by domain experts into verbal representations
               using text-to-speech functionality and provide them as a
               commentary. Using the described framework, we synthesize
               fly-throughs with descriptions: automatic ones that mimic a
               manually authored documentary or semi-automatic ones which
               guide the documentary narrative solely through curated
               textual input.",
  month =      nov,
  journal =    "IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics",
  volume =     "1",
  note =       "To appear (Early Access)",
  doi =        "10.1109/TVCG.2021.3130670",
  pages =      "1--1",
  keywords =   "Virtual tour, audio, biological data, storytelling,
               illustrative visualization",
  URL =        "https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2021/kouril-2021-molecumentary/",
}