“Visualization
Wall the Centerpiece of Brown Digital Scholarship Lab”
Matt
Enis
October
29, 2012
The
article “Visualization Wall the Centerpiece of Brown Digital Scholarship Lab”
by Matt Enis describes the Brown University Library’s newest addition: Patrick
Ma Digital Scholarship Lab. This lab offers students the ability to use
software that is designed for many subject areas. The labs main attraction is a
“video visualization wall made from twelve 55-inch LED screens.” The wall can
“show a single seven foot by 16 foot image.” It can also display “video at 24
megapixel resolution.” Another feature—which allows for collaborative
projects—is the option to connect the wall to “individual touch-screen
monitors.” This wall also enables videoconferencing. Because the visualization
wall provides both size and resolution, images can be seen in detail unlike
with a projector. Enis quotes Patrick Rashleigh—the library’s data
visualization coordinator—explaining the various types of collaboration, “You
can have a large group of people looking at the same visual artifact on screen,
or you can have multiple people displaying their own artifact, and everyone
being able to see others’ works. And then variations in between those two
extremes.” According to Enis, the idea for the visualization wall is based off
of a “19th century watercolor panorama chronicling the achievements
of Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi.” This work of art was first digitalized
so that Brown’s Department of Italian Studies could have viewing access. Next,
the library implemented an interactive touch screen—PixelSense—for interacting
with the digitalized panorama. This worked well for one or two people but was
unable to accommodate a larger number of people simultaneously. To fix this, they
first connected a computer to a large screen that would allow for more viewers.
Then they realized that students needed an environment that could be used
individually or for groups. And the idea for the digital lab was born.
I
found this article to be fascinating. I believe Brown University students will
greatly benefit from this digital lab. I wish UNCW had this interactive
learning facility, because it opens doors to creativity and collaboration that
is otherwise restricted due to the lack of technical equipment. I would be
interested in finding out if student achievement excels due to the use of the
new lab and how many students actually take advantage of the facility. From reading
about the progression of ideas and implementations that ultimately resulted in
the digital lab’s creation, shows how vast technical/educational improvements
can be made to a University—provided that sufficient funds can be obtained—which
would normally not have been envisioned. Overall, the article opened my eyes to
the possibilities of advancements that Universities could implement to better
student learning in this highly technical age.
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