Stephen David Beck

Distributed and collaborative visualization of large data sets using high-speed networks

We describe an architecture for distributed collaborative visualization that integrates video conferencing, distributed data management and grid technologies as well as tangible interaction devices for visualization. High-speed, low-latency optical networks support high-quality collaborative interaction and remote visualization of large data.

Toward rapid and iterative development of tangible, collaborative, distributed user interfaces

Distributed, tangible, collaborative applications involve potentially complex interactions of users, computing platforms, and physical artifacts. Realizing the necessary connections for these interactions can create hardware and software dependencies early in development, resulting in a system that is difficult to adapt to design changes. The Ensemble architecture is designed to encourage exploratory development of these systems by limiting the impact of changing components. Ensemble is a product of the exploratory design process it supports, evolving through use in two distinct application domains. The experience gained from these implementations has shaped Ensembles structure and design priorities, resulting in a component-based architecture that includes: (i) an application framework and graphical user interface support; (ii) a service framework, including service publication and discovery; (iii) local and remote event handling; (iv) distributed user and resource coordination; and (v) a structured configuration language shared by all Ensemble components.

Visualizing Katrina - merging computer simulations with observations

Hurricane Katrina has had a devastating impact on the US Gulf Coast, and her effects will be felt for many years. Forecasts of such events, coupled with timely response, can greatly reduce casualties and save billions of dollars. We show how visualizations from storm surge and atmospheric simulations were used to understand the predictions of how strong, where, and when flooding would occur in the hours leading up to Katrinas landfall. Sophisticated surface, flow and volume visualization techniques show these simulation results interleaved with actual observations, including satellite cloud images, GIS aerial maps and LIDAR showing the 3D terrain of New Orleans. The sheer size and complexity of the data in this application also motivated research in efficient data access mechanisms and rendering algorithms. Our goals were to use the resulting animation as a vehicle for raising awareness in the general populace to the true impact of the event, to create a scientifically accurate representation of the storm and its effects, and to develop a workflow to create similar visualizations for future and simulated hurricanes. Screenings of the animation have been well received, both by the general public and by scientists in the field.

Electroacoustics laboratory assignments for computer music students

A series of pedagogical exercises are described that integrate concepts from traditional musical acoustics laboratory assignments with the fundamentals of computer music. Students are asked to rapidly prototype hybrid devices that contain both musical acoustic components as well as sensors, embedded audio signal processing, and loudspeaker drivers. To help students rapidly complete working prototypes, students are provided with working audio effects and sound synthesizer programs. Students learn the programming language (Pure Data) only by example for making small changes to the previously designed programs, as they are integrated with custom-made, physical acoustics components (e.g., D-I-Y vibrating strings, drums, columns of air, rattles, etc.). Music students first learned that building quality acoustic instrument components is harder than they originally thought. Although out-of-the-box thinking is regarded as an important factor in devising novel electroacoustic prototypes, students starting from pre...

Force-Feedback Instruments for the Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana

Digital musical instruments yielding force feedback were designed and employed in a case study with the Laptop Orchestra of Louisiana. The advantages of force feedback are illuminated through the creation of a series of musical compositions. Based on these and a small number of other prior music compositions, the following compositional approaches are recommended: providing performers with precise, physically intuitive, and reconfigurable controls, using traditional controls alongside force-feedback controls as appropriate, and designing timbres that sound uncannily familiar but are nonetheless novel. Video-recorded performances illustrate these approaches, which are discussed by the composers.

A physical model of a highly nonlinear string and its use in the music composition Quartet for Strings

A real-time virtual string model is created that supports two modes of haptic force-feedback interaction. Using one haptic controller, the string can be plucked, and using a second haptic controller, the virtual strings pitch can be continuously varied by applying pressure to the string. Via both controllers, the vibrations of the virtual string can be felt while it is played. These functionalities are achieved by modeling the string as a finite sequence of interleaved masses and stiffening springs. For artistic purposes, a nonlinear spring force characteristic function is selected that limits the effective stiffness of each spring to a range between k and (k + ks). This function is F(x) = kx + (ksx3)/(β2+x> + x2), where x is the displacement of the nonlinear spring and β approximately adjusts the displacement at which the stiffness becomes significantly nonlinear. For small displacements, the strings undamped fundamental frequency is tuned by k, and for sufficiently large displacements, the strings un...