Rijken, Gerrit J ; Cutura, Rene ; Heyen, Frank ; Sedlmair, Michael ; Correll, Michael ; Dykes, Jason ; Smit, Noeska: Illegible Semantics: Exploring the Design Space of Metal Logos. In: IEEE VIS alt.VIS Workshop, IEEE VIS alt.VIS Workshop, 2021
Abstract
The logos of metal bands can be by turns gaudy, uncouth, or nearly illegible. Yet, these logos work: they communicate sophisticated notions of genre and emotional affect. In this paper we use the design considerations of metal logos to explore the space of "illegible semantics": the ways that text can communicate information at the cost of readability, which is not always the most important objective. In this work, drawing on formative visualization theory, professional design expertise, and empirical assessments of a corpus of metal band logos, we describe a design space of metal logos and present a tool through which logo characteristics can be explored through visualization. We investigate ways in which logo designers imbue their text with meaning and consider opportunities and implications for visualization more widely.BibTeX
Cutura, Rene ; Angerbauer, Katrin ; Heyen, Frank ; Hube, Natalie ; Sedlmair, Michael: DaRt: Generative Art using Dimensionality Reduction Algorithms. In: 2021 IEEE VIS Arts Program (VISAP), 2021 IEEE VIS Arts Program (VISAP) : IEEE, 2021, S. 59--72
Abstract
Dimensionality Reduction (DR) is a popular technique that is often used in Machine Learning and Visualization communities to analyze high-dimensional data. The approach is empirically proven to be powerful for uncovering previously unseen structures in the data. While observing the results of the intermediate optimization steps of DR algorithms, we coincidently discovered the artistic beauty of the DR process. With enthusiasm for the beauty, we decided to look at DR from a generative art lens rather than their technical application aspects and use DR techniques to create artwork. Particularly, we use the optimization process to generate images, by drawing each intermediate step of the optimization process with some opacity over the previous intermediate result. As another alternative input, we used a neural-network model for face-landmark detection, to apply DR to portraits, while maintaining some facial properties, resulting in abstracted facial avatars. In this work, we provide such a collection of such artwork.BibTeX
Achberger, Alexander ; Heyen, Frank ; Vidackovic, Kresimir ; Sedlmair, Michael: PropellerHand: A Hand-Mounted, Propeller-Based Force Feedback Device. In: International Symposium on Visual Information Communication and Interaction (VINCI), International Symposium on Visual Information Communication and Interaction (VINCI) : ACM, 2021, S. 4:1--4:8
Abstract
Immersive analytics is a fast growing field that is often applied in virtual reality (VR). VR environments often lack immersion due to missing sensory feedback when interacting with data. Existing haptic devices are often expensive, stationary, or occupy the user’s hand, preventing them from grasping objects or using a controller. We propose PropellerHand, an ungrounded hand-mounted haptic device with two rotatable propellers, that allows exerting forces on the hand without obstructing hand use. PropellerHand is able to simulate feedback such as weight and torque by generating thrust up to 11 N in 2-DOF and a torque of 1.87 Nm in 2-DOF. Its design builds on our experience from quantitative and qualitative experiments with different form factors and parts. We evaluated our final version through a qualitative user study in various VR scenarios that required participants to manipulate virtual objects in different ways, while changing between torques and directional forces. Results show that PropellerHand improves users’ immersion in virtual reality.BibTeX