Augmented Data Physicalization: Blending Dynamic Data Sculptures with Virtual Content for Interactive Visualization

Description:

 

We investigate the concept of Augmented Dynamic Data Physicalization, the combination of shape-changing physical data representations with high-resolution virtual content. Tangible data sculptures, for example using mid-air shape-changing interfaces, are aesthetically appealing and persistent, but also technically and spatially limited. Blending them with Augmented Reality overlays such as scales, labels, or other contextual information opens up new possibilities. We explore the potential of this promising combination and propose a set of essential visualization components and interaction principles. They facilitate sophisticated hybrid data visualizations, for example Overview & Detail techniques or 3D view aggregations. We discuss three implemented applications that demonstrate how our approach can be used for personal information hubs, interactive exhibitions, and immersive data analytics. Based on these use cases, we conducted hands-on sessions with external experts, resulting in valuable feedback and insights. They highlight the potential of combining dynamic physicalizations with dynamic AR overlays to create rich and engaging data experiences.

Paper download:  (19.7 MB)

 

Additional material:

We make several items of additional material available in the following OSF repository: osf.io/6snwt.

Video:

paper video:

Get the video:

Pictures:

(these images as well as others from the paper that are our own are available under a CC-BY 4.0 license, see the license statement at the end of the paper)

Reference:

Severin Engert, Andreas Peetz, Konstantin Klamka, Pierre Surer, Tobias Isenberg, and Raimund Dachselt (2025) Augmented Data Physicalization: Blending Dynamic Data Sculptures with Virtual Content for Interactive Visualization. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 2025. To appear.
×

BibTeX entry:



@ARTICLE{Engert:2025:ADP,
  author      = {Severin Engert and Andreas Peetz and Konstantin Klamka and Pierre Surer and Tobias Isenberg and Raimund Dachselt},
  title       = {Augmented Data Physicalization: Blending Dynamic Data Sculptures with Virtual Content for Interactive Visualization},
  journal     = {IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics},
  year        = {2025},
  doi         = {10.1109/TVCG.2025.3547432},
  doi_url     = {https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2025.3547432},
  oa_hal_url  = {https://hal.science/hal-05050880},
  osf_url     = {https://osf.io/6snwt/},
  url         = {https://tobias.isenberg.cc/p/Engert2025ADP},
  url2        = {https://imld.de/ADDP},
  pdf         = {https://tobias.isenberg.cc/personal/papers/Engert_2025_ADP.pdf},
}

This work was done at and in collaboration with the Interactive Media Lab Dresden of the Technical University of Dresden, Germany. Please see their page on the project as well.