Screenshots
Eye-Sys was used to visualize data from an MIT BioInstrumentation Lab's (bioinstrumentation.mit.edu) experiment designed to study the vestibulo-ocular reflex in humans.
Eye-Sys was used to visualize data from MIT's BioInstrumentation Lab (bioinstrumentation.mit.edu). The data was taken from an experiment designed to study the vestibulo-ocular reflex (the eye movement responsible for stabilizing images on the retina during eye movement).
During the experiment, subjects were asked to follow a target dot projected on the screen (represented here by the green sphere). The target moved back and forth across the screen while the subject's head was slightly but repeatedly twisted by an external force (represented here by the arrow above the head). Sensors were used to measure the angle of the head and the angle of the eyes relative to the head. This numeric data was collected and recorded in a text data file.
First, the angles and torque data were imported into Eye-Sys via a standard text file reading object. Using the graph plotter, the data relations were reviewed to establish a full understanding of the data (see pic 1). In this specific instance, the correlation of eye position to target position was especially relevant, though head torque and other positions were key to a full understanding of the information.
To make a solid visual tool to understand the given data, a simulation-based design was used to show the movements of the head, as well as the overall results of eye tracing against the screen.
Next, the base framework of the visualization was constructed. For the "head," a simple cube was added, and a plane for projector board screen. Eye location as well as tracking point were indicated with points on the plane (see the "Scene Graph Renderer" window in pic 2).
Using this basic construction, Eye-Sys' real-time driver converted the data into an animation based on data connections established in the sandbox. (see the "Sandbox" in pic 2) To allow users to slow the action for closer examination, a time scaling slider was added as a GUI component and connected to the real-time driver (see pic 3). In addition, direct readouts of the numeric data were added to the plane for easy reference by the user, as well as a visual indicator of the playback speed relative to real time (see pic 3).
In refining the production, Eye-Sys demonstrated its ability to use a variety of visualization tools. The projection screen model was imported as a graphic object from a 3DS model (see pic 4). The other objects, such as the eyes and head, were all produced directly within Eye-Sys using Eye-Sys' own design capabilities (see pic 5). To create the path tracing for the eye and target projections, particle systems were attached to each position indicator (see pic 6).