Using 3-D technology to make big data useful

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UL Lafayette student Nicholas Lipari is using 3-D technology to make big data useful.

He小蝌蚪APP檚 working on a project for the national Center for Visual and Decision Informatics, a collaborative effort of UL Lafayette, Drexel 小蝌蚪APP, the National Science Foundation and industry.

Lipari, who小蝌蚪APP檚 pursuing a doctorate in computer science, is using data collected when Hurricane Isaac made landfall in Louisiana in August 2012. Sensors, installed on levees in and around New Orleans, recorded water levels as the storm moved inland.

His goal is to create a way to monitor real-time data, so the user can make decisions based on that information.

小蝌蚪APP淲e小蝌蚪APP檝e become accustomed to using a computer keyboard or mouse in relation to a 2-D display. But we haven小蝌蚪APP檛 worked out the conventions of the 3-D environment. It小蝌蚪APP檚 sort of like the difference between driving a car and flying a helicopter, and obviously, it takes a lot of training to be able to fly a helicopter. We小蝌蚪APP檙e working to create an intuitive way to manipulate information in a 3-D world,小蝌蚪APP Lipari said.

He is writing software to enable people to use hand-held devices, such as smart phones or computer tablets, to interact with a 3-D display.

小蝌蚪APP淲e also want to take advantage of affordable, widely available components, such as 3-D televisions,小蝌蚪APP he added.