Data Visualization in VR

Flow Immersive is a platform that specializes in immersive data visualization for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) environments. It transforms data into interactive 3D visual stories - called “Flows” - which can be viewed on a variety of devices, including VR headsets, desktop browsers, and mobile screens in AR.

CO₂ Emissions Per Household is a demonstration “Flow” that uses a 3D map to visualize the amount of CO₂ emitted by households across the USA. As shown in the video above, the 3D map is visually compelling and, I assume, looks particularly impressive when viewed through a VR headset. Unfortunately, I don’t find the interface very user-friendly.

On the map, colored circles indicate levels of CO₂ emissions, while height represents population density. Users can zoom in and click on individual markers to view the exact amount of CO₂ emitted per person and per household in each ZIP code area. However, there doesn’t appear to be an option to pan the map. The gestures that typically allow panning on an online map instead rotate the scene around a 3D axis. As a result, it’s impossible to obtain a straightforward overview of coastal cities - or any location near the edge of the map - and this makes the data difficult to read.

As far as map visualizations go, I would say that, at the moment, while the immersive 3D map is visually impressive, Flow is not particularly effective as a tool for data visualization. It prioritizes aesthetic impact over clarity, making it hard for users to access and interpret the underlying data. I don't have VR glasses so I may be being unfair here - if in VR there are more intuitive controls and clearer ways to view the actual ZIP code values for coastal cities.