Affordable environments for 3D collaborative data visualization

The CAVE automatic virtual environment is an immersive stereoscopic projection based virtual reality environment that has become, in many ways, the environment of choice at George Mason University's center for Computational Statistics. We have developed the PlatoCAVE and the MiniCAVE, which are CAVE-like systems oriented toward group interactions. As such, they are particularly suited to collaborative efforts in data analysis and visual data mining. The author discusses design considerations for the construction of these collaborative environments, including one-wall versus four-wall implementations, stereoscopic placement, head tracking, the use of LCD devices, polarized light stereo, and voice control. The description of the assemblage of commercial products into systems is intended not to endorse such products but to give instances of products that could be used.