SCOPE: Cosmus [Projects]

EXHIBITS \| EVALUATIONS OF EXHIBITS \| PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
	E X H I B I T S Electronic visualizations which mainly focus on astronomical/cosmological themes. Some are stand alone and able to be used right from being downloaded from the site. Others are interactive and require facilitation by someone while they are playing. You are free to use any of our material you desire, we just ask that you credit us and, if possible, tell us you are using it with a quick email in the spirit of freeware, so that we know where our pieces are being used.
	Sloan Digital Sky Survey SDSS Galaxy Fly-through An interactive 3D view of the large scale structure of the universe. Data courtesy of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. SDSS Movie A movie that takes the viewer from a terrestrial perspective at the Apache Point Observatory on to a fly through of galaxies at the edge of the universe. APO Walk-trough An interactive virtual visit to the Apache Point Observatory(APO), home of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Back to top of page
	Evolution of the universe Fingers of God Data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey is not perfect. Observationally, local motions and cosmological stretching of space can get mixed up. This is a technical project to smooth out some of these artifacts, called 'Fingers of God', because they seem to point to one spot. Back to top of page
	VERITAS - Telescope Array VERITAS Walkthough An interactive virtual visit to one of the gamma ray telescopes from the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) that is under construction in southern Arizona. Back to top of page
	Other Astronomical Visualizations Milky Way A model of the Milky Way that isn't a simple photograph. Milky Way Stars The stars nearest to Earth in the Milky Way. Earth at Night 3D views of the Earth showing light pollution all over the globe, and several other things. Back to top of page
	Stereo Photography Archive SDSS/Apache Point Observatory taken by Jurek Krzesinski Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO)/SZA taken by Chris Greer OVRO/SZA Non-Stereo Photos taken by Chris Greer More OVRO/SZA Non-Stereo Photos taken by Chris Greer Back to top of page
	Works in Progress Mad Libs Using metaphors to teach cosmological concepts (needs Shockwave player - only for Windows/Mac platforms). Back to top of page
	E V A L U A T I O N S O F E X H I B I T S We were interested in evaluating the exhibits we created, yet due to our time constraints, large scale formal evaluations were not possible. We were able to perform a study of our SDSS themed exhibits showed in conjunction with other 3D models at SciTech, a children's museum in Aurora, IL. Below is some background information discovered for evaluation of museum exhibits in general, steps taken in development of the study and results. Thesis written on study results is found in our Publications/Presentations section below. Types of Evaluations Short descriptions of the three main types of evaluations performed on museum exhibits. Outline for study Outline for the study that was performed involving our SDSS exhibits from above. Survey Interview Guide Questions used in interviews given after audiences from studiy watched various VR exhibit, including the SDSS exhibits above. Outline of Results: Indicators and Factors Skeletal outline of results found from study. Full results detailed in thesis in Publications/Presentations section below. Useful Evaluation References References that are useful in investigating exhibit evaluations in general and virtual reality evaluation, specifically. Back to top of page
	P U B L I C A T I O N S / P R E S E N T A T I O N S Papers Cosmus: Virtual 3D Cosmology in Public Science Museums. Paper written and presented at Virtual Reality for Public Consumption, IEEE's Virtual Reality 2004 Workshop. Studying Visitor Engagement in Virtual Reality Based Children's Science Museum Exhibits. Unpublished thesis written on evaluation study using modules from Cosmus project. Powerpoint Presentations Initial Presentation given SciTech - 12.8.03 Presentaiton given to SCOPE PIs and guests - 3.12.04 Presentaiton given to Univ of Chicago Museums and Anthropolgy class - 4.16..4 Back to top of page