Envisioning new learning spaces: creating a center for visualization at Indiana State University

Abstract

Growing interest in visualization and stereography has prompted the Center for Instruction, Research, and Technology at Indiana State University (ISU) to expand visualization resources available to faculty and students. Beginning in the spring of 2006, ISU built four new active learning spaces equipped to handle various faculty members. visualization needs. The "Science Room" is a 20-seat, multi-disciplinary visualization classroom, equipped with stereoscopic projectors, an 11-foot, 16:9 format polarized screen, viewing glasses, and a powerful workstation. Faculty throughout all colleges with stereoscopic instructional material may schedule the room for entire semesters or on a per-class/as-needed basis. Normal Hall, room 121, was remodeled to become a multidisciplinary visualization laboratory. Researchers now have access to both active and passive stereoscopic systems. One of the systems in Normal Hall is capable of displaying HR (high definition/high resolution) objects on a 14-foot large format screen. Included in the laboratory is a three-dimensional laser scanner capable of creating digital representations of objects in their natural environments. This scanner has recently been used by faculty to create digital three dimensional representations of clay pots recovered from an archeological dig. In addition, a powerful rendering cluster combining supercomputing and visualization technologies is in place to simultaneously process 3-D graphics, imaging, and video data in real time. The rendering cluster enables faculty to tackle the most demanding visual computing challenges. Visualization applications are available for many disciplines including science, art, business, and engineering. This presentation and paper will focus on the process of building these new learning spaces and marketing them to faculty on the ISU campus.