ABSTRACT
Imagine yourself a hyperintelligent being from another galaxy. You are a luminous egg. You are exploring the universe in search of molecular resources and other life. As you warp into the Milky Way, your dashboard alights, detailing the presence of numerous electromagnetic signals and valuable atomic elements in the solar system. Turning your ship toward a small yellow star, you consider the attributes of each planet in the system: size, mass, chemical compositions, and environmental qualities. Patterns in these attributes generate hypotheses about the history and habitability of the
48.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1265 48.1.1 Observer and Observed .......................................................................................... 1266 48.1.2 Media and Message ................................................................................................ 1267
48.2 Background ......................................................................................................................... 1268 48.2.1 Graphical Information ............................................................................................ 1268
48.2.1.1 Visual Markers ......................................................................................... 1268 48.2.2 Attention ................................................................................................................. 1269 48.2.3 Scienti˜c Visualization ........................................................................................... 1270 48.2.4 Information Visualization ....................................................................................... 1272
48.2.4.1 Multiple Views ......................................................................................... 1276 48.2.5 Virtual Environments ............................................................................................. 1277
48.2.5.1 Information-Rich Virtual Environments ................................................. 1278 48.2.5.2 Display: Sizes and Resolution .................................................................. 1279
48.3 Activity Design ................................................................................................................... 1279 48.4 Information Design Guidelines .......................................................................................... 1280
48.4.1 3D Rendering .......................................................................................................... 1281 48.4.2 Color and Lighting .................................................................................................. 1281 48.4.3 Multiple Views ........................................................................................................ 1282 48.4.4 Information-Rich Virtual Environments ................................................................ 1283 48.4.5 Platforms ................................................................................................................. 1283
48.5 Interaction Design Guidelines ............................................................................................ 1284 48.5.1 Navigation ............................................................................................................... 1285 48.5.2 Selection .................................................................................................................. 1287 48.5.3 Manipulation ........................................................................................................... 1287
48.6 Reªections on The Next Reality ......................................................................................... 1288 References .................................................................................................................................... 1288
planets in this system. Of the top planets you examine closer, you ˜nd the third stone from the sun is a Blue Marble-a rare gem in this entropic universe. You ªy in to take a closer look….
