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Interfaces to Database Systems (IDS94) pp 168–182Cite as

Virtual Environments for Data Sharing and Visualisation — Populated Information Terrains

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Part of the book series: Workshops in Computing ((WORKSHOPS COMP.))

Abstract

The Concept of Populated Information Terrains (PITS) aims to extend database technology with key ideas from the new fields of Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). PITS are virtual data spaces which support visualisation of, and cooperative work within, shared data. This paper identifies key techniques for building PITS for various types of database, including multi-dimensional visualisation, statistical approaches, graph drawing techniques and human centred approaches. We then discuss issues concerned with populating such terrains including communication between users, embodiment of users, peripheral awareness of others and the relation to database concurrency control. Finally, we describe a prototype implementation that demonstrates the concept of PITS and which helps clarifies key design issues for future full-scale implementations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Steve Benford

  2. Computing Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

    John Mariani

Authors
  1. Steve Benford
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  2. John Mariani
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computing Department, Lancaster University, LA1 4YR, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

    Pete Sawyer BSc, PhD

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag London

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Benford, S., Mariani, J. (1995). Virtual Environments for Data Sharing and Visualisation — Populated Information Terrains. In: Sawyer, P. (eds) Interfaces to Database Systems (IDS94). Workshops in Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3818-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3818-1_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19910-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3818-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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