Amanda Levy's Project 2 Draft Plan

Project Goal

• use either TechViz XL or Virtalis Visionary Render software to collaborative analyze 3D CAD models 

Research Question

• Focusing on the CTV scenario of the Seven Scenarios 

  • How does using VR software to collaboratively analyze 3D CAD models help engineering teams point out mistakes and discuss areas to improve?

    • this is similar to this question from the Seven Scenarios paper: "Can useful information be extracted from a casual information visualization?"

Motivation

• CAD models often include small yet intricate parts where seeing the model from a greater variety of angles would be more advantageous 

• engineers are constantly analyzing and fixing CAD models, and they often source models from GrabCAD (learned from undergraduate student studying Mechanical Engineering at Brown)

Milestones By Each Class

• 4/05 

  • have a free license of either TechViz XL or Virtalis Visionary Render software

• 4/07

  • a selection of CAD models from GrabCAD to serve as examples in the VR software

• 4/12

  • completed in-class activity

  • communication metrics when groups analyze the CAD models without VR

• 4/14

  • subpage in the Wiki communication metrics for CAD models without VR

• 4/19

  • communication metrics for when groups analyze CAD models with VR (result of the in-class activity)

• 4/21

  • subpage in the Wiki communication metrics for CAD models with VR

• 4/26

  • subpage in the Wiki featuring a collection of screen recordings and photos to share with engineering students for feedback

• 4/28

  • subpage in the Wiki for feedback from engineering students regarding the helpfulness of VR when communicating about CAD models

• 5/03

  • subpage on the wiki showcasing the VR visualization software, its setup process, and any challenges from working with it

• 5/05

  • an organized subpage on the wiki for my research discussing the communication benefits of the VR visualization software in analyzing CAD models

Class Activity

• split the class into groups

• have each group first collaboratively analyze a CAD model without VR and then collaboratively analyze using VR

• after each round of analysis, the groups will complete a google form that records the quantity and quality of their communication while looking at the models