Vologram: An Educational Holographic Sculpture for Volumetric Medical Data Physicalization

Information

• Publication Type: Conference Paper
• Workgroup(s)/Project(s):
  • Visualization Group
• Date: September 2021
• Publisher: Eurographics Association
• Lecturer: Daniel Pahr
• ISSN: 2070-5786
• Event: Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and Medicine
• DOI: 10.2312/vcbm.20211341
• Call for Papers: Call for Paper
• Booktitle: Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and Medicine
• Journal: Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and Medicine
• Pages: 5
• Volume: VCBM 2021
• Pages: 19 – 23
• Keywords: Physicalization, Anatomy Education

Abstract

Real-world sculptures that display patient imaging data for anatomical education purposes have seen a recent resurgence through the field of data physicalization. In this paper, we describe an automated process for the computer-assisted generation of sculptures that can be employed for anatomical education among the general population. We propose a workflow that supports non-expert users to generate and physically display volumetric medical data in a visually appealing and engaging way. Our approach generates slide-based, interactive sculptures-called volograms-that resemble holograms of underlying medical data. The volograms are made out of affordable and readily available materials (e.g., transparent foils and cardboard) and can be produced through commonly available means. To evaluate the educational value of the proposed approach with our target audience, we assess the volograms, as opposed to classical, on-screen medical visualizations in a user study. The results of our study, while highlighting current weaknesses of our physicalization, also point to interesting future directions.

Additional Files and Images

Weblinks

• https://doi.org/10.2312/vcbm.20211341
• Entry in reposiTUm (TU Wien Publication Database)
• Entry in the publication database of TU-Wien
• DOI: 10.2312/vcbm.20211341

BibTeX

@inproceedings{pahr-2021-vologram,
  title =      "Vologram: An Educational Holographic Sculpture for
               Volumetric Medical Data Physicalization",
  author =     "Daniel Pahr and Hsiang-Yun Wu and Renata Raidou",
  year =       "2021",
  abstract =   "Real-world sculptures that display patient imaging data for
               anatomical education purposes have seen a recent resurgence
               through the field of data physicalization. In this paper, we
               describe an automated process for the computer-assisted
               generation of sculptures that can be employed for anatomical
               education among the general population. We propose a
               workflow that supports non-expert users to generate and
               physically display volumetric medical data in a visually
               appealing and engaging way. Our approach generates
               slide-based, interactive sculptures-called volograms-that
               resemble holograms of underlying medical data. The volograms
               are made out of affordable and readily available materials
               (e.g., transparent foils and cardboard) and can be produced
               through commonly available means. To evaluate the
               educational value of the proposed approach with our target
               audience, we assess the volograms, as opposed to classical,
               on-screen medical visualizations in a user study. The
               results of our study, while highlighting current weaknesses
               of our physicalization, also point to interesting future
               directions.",
  month =      sep,
  publisher =  "Eurographics Association",
  issn =       "2070-5786",
  event =      "Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and
               Medicine",
  doi =        "10.2312/vcbm.20211341",
  booktitle =  "Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and
               Medicine",
  journal =    "Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and
               Medicine",
  pages =      "5",
  volume =     "VCBM 2021",
  pages =      "19--23",
  keywords =   "Physicalization, Anatomy Education",
  URL =        "https://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/research/publications/2021/pahr-2021-vologram/",
}