6 Ways Virtual Reality will Transform Big Data Visualizations

Big data, when procured in its raw form, is a little unwieldy to handle, as it could get unorganized and extremely complicated. Understanding a pattern from the incoming data is a challenge.

Data is the king in any business; and for businesses to thrive, data has to be properly analyzed. Companies are always looking for intelligent ways to analyze this data so they can transform the way in which they can understand their customers and reach their goals much faster.

Initially, they began to use traditional bar graphs and pie charts, but these soon proved to be obsolete and unworthy as the data kept growing out of proportion.

And that’s where Virtual Reality stepped in with its magic. VR already proved its mettle when it took online socializing to a whole new level. A different dimension to this technique was brought to life when it began to transform Big Data visualizations.

The huge amount of Big Data can be understood only though a series of analytic steps, and visualization plays an important role in this strategy. Bar graphs and pie-charts do play a useful role in understanding big data, but they can only provide the headline figures.

We need something better on a granular level, something that tells the story in pure black and white. Let’s, go through the different ways in which VR can do this for Big Data visualizations.

An Example

Before we get in-depth into this, let us look at how VR, with the help of Big Data visualization, solved Goodyear’s woe. Several years ago, Goodyear wanted to know why they were losing races, so with the help of VR pioneer Dr. Robert Maples, engineers at Goodyear developed a complete simulation of its racing tires by looking at the complete historical data set.

Through simulation, it was possible to check the tires’ performance for minor variable changes made. This was viewed in real time and they were able to find the answers in a few minutes.

Keeping this in mind, let us know go through the different ways in which VR transforms Big Data.

1. Interactive is the Key

If you want to understand and handle big data properly, then interactivity is the key. And through interactions with VR, it is possible to analyze data dynamically, because you can actually reach out and touch data.

And once there is interaction, it is possible to comprehend and manipulate all the data that’s coming in.

2. Immersive Data Visualization is Possible

Immersive Data Visualization is a new trend used by data scientists to perceive and manipulate data in VR, and this is definitely a step further than the 3D data that they were used to.

There are specific tools to immerse data visualization through VR, and when coupled with haptic or kinesthetic interfaces, it is possible to capture body language, human touch and expression, making it a totally different art and science. This allows for intuitive data understanding and easier pattern recognition even among monstrous data sets.

3. Ultra Efficiency through Cross-Referencing Data

VR enables you to capably stack relevant data, pare it and create visual cues so that you can cross refer it instantly. You can view huge amounts of data at a glance. The amount of information available to us will only expand, and VR will help us analyze and fine tune our understanding to make it more efficient.

4. Navigation Through the Subconscious Mind

One of the amazing features of VR is that it can actually guide the subconscious mind. Human mind is truly incredibly, but sometimes it becomes difficult to process vast amounts of information.

The immersive feature of VR makes it possible for it to understand the subconscious mind and when the human brain displays fatigue, it adapts itself to areas that make it easier for the user to understand and comprehend.

5. Makes Natural Interaction Possible

In the world that we live in, we can use our hands to feel things. Virtual reality allows us to do the same thing through data visualization. You can manipulate data streams, push windows around, press buttons and actually walk around data worlds. This allows users to make accurate data analysis and thus, faster decisions.

6. Multi-Dimensional Data Analysis

Before VR made its entry, users had only their eyes to analyze the data, but post VR, multi-dimensional data analysis is possible. And that means, not just the use of hands, but hearing as well. This enables them to understand the subject, location and significance of a particular data source.

Maybe it is a little out of bounds to talk about feel and taste in data visualization, but perhaps, such a day is not too far behind, right?

Conclusion

Blending VR with data visualization brings out a whole new level of doing business and this can be intensely felt in every industry, right from the retail industry to services and utilities. Machine learning is faster and more efficient when compared to traditional techniques; extracting key information helps create new business models and even determine if a business agreement becomes successful or not.

This could be because you can actually put in huge quantities of data in visually comprehensive environments, Virtual Reality can unlock a plethora of treasures that can “patternize” the data in a whole new way.

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