Scaling immersive visualization with COTS VR: the Voxar Labs experience

Over the past decade, new commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) virtual reality (VR) devices have substantially lowered the entry barriers for immersive visualization in academic and industrial settings. Voxar Labs, based at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), has consistently favored smaller, more flexible installations and HMD-based immersive solutions over large-scale, high-cost visualization environments. This paper presents Voxar Labs’ strategies for fostering immersive research and innovation with limited resources, discusses the advantages and challenges of adopting COTS technology, and highlights successes in education, research, and outreach. Our experience suggests that nimble, decentralized, and portable approaches can broaden the impact of immersive visualization labs while still meeting the demanding requirements of scientific research.