JoAnn Kuchera-Morin: Tour the AlloSphere, a stunning new way to see scientific data

[crystaltofu]

push the boundaries further, explore the unexplored. go you good thing.

[perceptualvets]

I suspect I'll meet my Combat PTSD in the Allosphere, and like most successful recovery, as a recoverist mather -mentor I sense once I meet my enemy, I'll find peace, as will my "former" enemy, to wit the "unseen" trauma of PTSD. ( It is my hope this becomes a equation in the AlloSphere. Dr this is music (therapy) to my ears and taps the vibes in my soul. Nice Work Dr. Joann. vr, sci r vets & arts cafe, jw.

[gp4nut]

Reminds me of iMax. I don't think there's any demand or need for this AlloSphere. Nice invention but a bit of a white elephant. Who will invest or pay for these? I doubt many will be built.

[chh5555]

Interesting but if you see the direction this is going... higher levels of complexity requiring hyper levels of investment, horrifically complex computational hardware that becomes obsolete almost before it gets online. Which is monstrously difficult to use and plagued by monumental glitches. The level of development eventually exceeds the usefulness and eventually funding dries up, dust collects and another colossally expensive technofossil is left neglected.

[greenmushi666]

This is the first step to making star treks holodeck :)

.

[Akkkico]

3:00, it looks like the universe.

[dbalieiro]

#thankU #TEDtalk

[derman077]

I wonder if Zinc or Copper's song played in our scale will kill viruses.

[derman077]

NVIDIA, The way it's meant to be played.

[rsouthern]

that doctor from planet of the apes was always so so smart!

[looni3]

Sounds awesome; how long till it's commercialised as the ultimate home theatre?

Imagine browsing websites with 3D tabs.

[SAGEBOT500]

Do you think they play video games on it after hours?

[defect530]

i appreciate her lecture, i only wish she would have shut up for a second or two so i could hear the sound she was talking about.

[Ashiman]

magic school bus meets turbo encabulator

[Chousakan]

30 foot metal sphere, echo free chamber to house the sphere, network of projectors to beam images onto inside of the sphere, the sound system, the computers and the environmental control for the chamber housing the sphere. Am I missing something or is that an aweful lot of resources to waste on something that appears to be less effictive than having the scientists just wear VR headsets when using the visualization software(which probably sucks)?

Resource wasting edutainment rubbish...

[Khronofox]

They're not your resources, they're USC's. What does it matter to you, I'm sure you waste plenty of resources yourself.

[silverblue73]

yes, you're probably missing a few degrees and a bit of open mindedness

[Sairin13]

"Music of the Spheres" Doctor Who Christmas Short

[DefiningConcepts]

At 01:46, JoAnn demos the brain AlloSphere, which is of particular interest to me. After all, the brain is where we are perceiving and attempting to understand what is going on.

What is being attempted with AlloSphere? Is a new reality being created in which scientific disciplines and artistic fields merge to create an elevated awareness.  This project goes beyond even the monumental undertaking of landing men on the moon. (My first thought was that i am speechless.)

[austpom333]

AFM ???

[gustahid1]

Atomic Force Microscope? Its a needle that creates a topographic representation of the substance its running over. The needle is on the order of several atoms in width, so they can see really small stuff.

[austpom333]

OH cheers. I asked because in the blues brothers the Hicks say AFM sh.. . I thaught it was a USA saying, but i digress. The Atomic Force Microscope sounds super interesting, can only imagine what image it will produce in 20 years.

[Cormiero]

How is this an advancement in anything? They have not found a new way of observing anything. This is nothing more than an overblown planetarium.

[anoutsideobserver]

Firstly popularising science is necessary to aid advancement.

Secondly this is likely to lead to advancements as it could both aid scientists in the conceptualisation of physical phenomena and more importantly the algorithms they are using could very likely lead to new mathematical insights.

Whether it will be worth the money though, only time will tell.

[Cormiero]

None of the algorithms used in this demonstration were first put to use in this expensive contraption. This is popularizing science in the same way discovery channel popularizes science; lots of flash with no substance. This is hollow edutainment, nothing more.

[anoutsideobserver]

If it wasn't for the hollow edutainment of the discovery channel and the like I would never have done a degree in physics.

Making science accessible is of the utmost importance to prevent it from being overcome by the ignorance and resulting fear from the populus.

I am impressed though that you were able to ascertain the all the algorithms used in this demonstration from the visuals given.

[Cormiero]

I'm sure a lot of people are overcome by the ignorance and resulting fear from from discovery chancel's top ten world ending disaster episodes, or the brain rot that is mythbusters.

There was an entire hour long documentary trying to make the case that the Large HADRON Collider was going to be the end of the world. I'm glad that you got something good out of watching discovery but most people don't, get wrong headed ideas and start opposing things like the HADRON Collider that produce real data.

[Ashiman]

this is the new magic school bus with 80's CGI and redneck teacher, whos IMMMA MUSICIAN ORCHESTROTORATOR

[terbospeed]

sounds like lucid dreaming *good job*

[theinsane102]

first generation holodeck. :D

[doloppost]

I think drugs are sooo overrated, access to an Allosphere is all you need for a decent fieldtrip!

[eddiecoyote1]

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful advancement.

[lostinaparadox]

we have a product coming on the market soon that shines the image directly into your retina they are small and can be worn on a par of glasses like structure

[Denso59]

Dangerous !

[aznchopstix]

I actually went inside the allosphere today in person and I have to tell u guys, it was the most amazing experience ever.

only 1/2 of the sphere is done though(can show projections)

[GaddingImp]

this is like cerebro in x-men. i'd want an allosphere to play games please.

[parikannappan]

This could be in schools to tech children

teach science and biology...

[thewah]

In 20 years, every home will have one of these.

We are headed into the Star Trek Universe, for reals...if we can just keep from killing each other.

[Kargoneth]

I think the screen is interesting but the sound is distracting

[MilesB1975]

The sound could be programmed to alert the user to an event occuring. Say the bonding of a particular virtual molecule or the mutation of a gene in the simulation. Something that you may not notice in a visual only space.

[willko1000]

This is a great tool to allow people to see the strength of systemic thinking. You can really see the system!

Waste of money... would you rather it be spend on war?

They can have all my tax dollars as far as I'm concerned.

[1ucasvb]

Boring and useless.

Why build a huge, spherical, anechoic 360° screen with speakers in order to see some lame procedually generated graphics and audio based on scientific data?

Is there anything this can do that a computer monitor and headphones can't? Is wasting time and resources to "prettify" scientific data worth it?

I don't think it is.

[coozno1977]

It's narrow mindedness that stop us from making breakthroughs. This just makes it it easier to visualize/simplify things when your thinking big and complex. At the very least its a new way at looking at things and this is key to new discoveries.

[Momentheum]

New discoveries can be made with this though.

[laxhockfiendmb]

omg this was soo interesting. i watched it twice. i dont know how closely this relates to actual matter but this is the kind of research we need. put the data into a computer and allow it to feed the information back to us in ways that we can add to it and understand it more clearly.

[angelwhite]

3:45 is backwards, it's 3 hydrogen atoms bonding to 1 zinc atom.

[HamOnCan]

where does consciousness come into the picture

[dreamentity]

The picture of this inspired you to ask that question ^^'

[officialmcdeath]

It's sunny in Arizona.

[garvess]

She is sexy as fuck. And I am unsure if she knows what shes talking about since she is educated in music.

[FantasmaBAnco]

sexy as fuck??

[garvess]

Its a joke.

[FantasmaBAnco]

Phew! Glad to hear that!

[Elephantintheroom01]

Move over planetarium!

[Joerexia]

Art plus science! I like!

[mamiurcas]

cerebro!!

[princeofexcess]

Am i the only one that has trouble posting comments

it says all the time posting comment... and never goes to comment posted!

just stays like that till i refresh and loose my comment :(

[princeofexcess]

not the worst

some jokes would be nice but its a short video

[ratholin]

But can professor Xavier hook into it and find all the mutants?

[tumbleworld]

So she's rigged up a 360 monitor with some speakers, and she and her "artist friends" have come up with a bunch of pretty visualisations to play through it.

Wow, how cutting edge.

[johnycannuk]

Well did you think of doing this and applying it to real science?

No?

Well, I guess that is what makes it "cutting edge"...

[intrepgun]

but it is certainly a neat, probably ridiculously expensive and wasteful gadget. gotta give [finite] credit where credit's due, i guess. :)

[zarkoff45]

Boy, do I wish I had a toy like that to play with!

[normskis69]

Almost supports some aspects of basic string theory; amazing!

[RantKid]

it's really cool and all, but this damn lady seems so un energetic and unenthusiastic about this...so monotone!

zzZzzzZzzz

[maxxamtml]

its like form eagle eye!!!

[DSBrekus]

.... can it play videogames?

[int3rl0per]

Actually, some dude built an "immersion half-sphere" out of umbrellas for use in videogames. Haven't heard about it in a while, though, but the technology is pretty straight-forward.

This sphere looks like a few projectors and a speaker system - hook up your PC and you're ready to play some big-time Quake. :)

[penutwi]

left4dead in one of these would be amazing lol

[DSBrekus]

agreed but it would probably freak me out too much :P

[Chick6517]

I'm glad that if I need help on something Youtube always shows me how to do it. haha I never knew so many people were so informative!

[LeMegasandwich]

'singing to you' 'artists have made for scientists.'

This is a waste of money, at this stage.

It doesn't help, it's just a way of showing what we have already figured out with real instruments.

[conscab]

maybe, but it helps the users (doctors, engineers etc) see things better. At least this.

Isn't it worth it?

[WillSKB88]

This isn't a waste of time and money, this sort of thing brings us closer to understanding the most fundamental things in life.

Aside from breathing, eating, sleeping and working.

[Dhragonfly]

more of an artistic gimmick than an effective application..in my opinion at least

[riversonthemoon]

Fantastic. Whenever humans increase their ability to outsource computation and modeling to the environment (just like we do with a pad and pencil) we increase our conceptual possibilities. Imagine using this with genetic algorithms to come up with engineering solutions with precise designs down to the molecular level.

There is hope yet for humanity.

[ruthmagdalen]

Thank you so much. Your AlloSphere video examples make me think of spiritual dimensions...it does look like deeply spiritual work. You didnt mention that? Extraordinary! You are having such fun Wow!

[rich0319726]

No... I like the idea, but you are combing too much.

[theaggravator]

wow, this is a real waste of time and money.

[xXGodlessXx]

No, you just don't know what kind practical application this provides for research and doctors.

Think about MRIs and CAT scans, it might save lives.

for now, in it's infancy, it does look kind of dumb, but it, like everything else will get better with time.

[theaggravator]

"Like everything else will get better with time"? Everything else?

What, like all that science that has gotten better at oppressing, destroying and killing human beings? Please... go light some farts.

[xXGodlessXx]

To the stupid troll theaggravator:

"like all that science that has gotten better at oppressing, destroying and killing human beings? Please... go light some farts. "

right like the discovery of antibiotics, the computer, and automobiles... Science alone is responsibile for our increased life expectancy... you are plain stupid. go read your bronze aged tomes of bigotry and enjoy your failed life.

[theaggravator]

To the fucktard gay troll xXGodlessXx:

What's the matter - can't work a liter to lite your farts? I know it isn't you, you're so full of shit! LOL!

Pull your head out of your ass first methane breath - that might help - you stupid shit!

[xXGodlessXx]

Nice comeback.

[787Bisurdaddy]

"can't work a liter to lite your farts?"

A liter is a measurement.

[theaggravator]

So I type fast - fuck you, get a life ass hole. Later butt face.

[787Bisurdaddy]

Actually, you type poorly and apparently can't distinguish between two totally different words.

[787Bisurdaddy]

Also, just so you know, "asshole" is one word.

[theaggravator]

So is fucktard - and you are one.

[theaggravator]

I tpe like a paid professional ass hole - and U can't distinguish UR head from UR ass - you stupid fucktard

[787Bisurdaddy]

You're right, "professionals" type like shit, too. It's a massive failure of public education.

But the point remains: you DO realize that there is a difference between spelling poorly and writing completely different words, right? I mean I've never actually come across someone dumb enough to spell "lighter" as "liter," because the two words obviously mean different things.

[humanist7117]

Astounding!! But how do you drag the populace along?

[theaggravator]

Just promise them free tickets to see Oprah drag her parade of human debris across the face of humanity!

[verzinker]

A similar VR cave is installed in the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria.

[yamaha893]

im not sure where my last post went, but the more i watch this the sillier it gets.

[theaggravator]

Just a group of uppity retards with too much time on their hands, way to much money and little practical brains.

Makes better sense to hold mortal combat battles in Thunder Dome - "2 men enter, 1 man leaves"! LOL!

[roidroid]

it's just a VR Cave

[desikinlalaland]

cool mapping and great exploratory and learning tool and experience i'm sure but i share the concern of other posters that the heroic scale of the allosphere as hardware defeats the object and detracts from similar work with 3D modelling and VR in a browser .

[csikjarudi]

Have you heard about planetarium?

I think this is a failed attempt, but time will tell...

[sisyphusorianus9787]

Oh Ted

nice save! This looks excellent.

[chikotube]

can't you just give everybody stereoscopic headsets with accelerometers and IR point sensors and have your colleagues sit with you in your own conference room? I don't see the advantage of the sphere, but the virtualization application is nice, although a variation of what's already out there.

[AnonEyeMouse]

You could but there is something to be said for bodily being there. Being able to stand next to colleagues in a 'real' enviroment and be able to check your watch, make notes on a pad etc... and not have the sense of dislocation associated with headsets is a major advantage in that it removes distraction and allows you to focus on the image at hand. Also headsets have a hard time with peripheral vision, something this simulation won't.

[mormannoob]

Its a high tech visualization

[riceman1230]

I can think of a ton of useful applications. But why not make the information available online for home viewing and not have to be there in person.

[DrFaustus1981]

I've heard of better ones.

But I need to get stoned and watch that again.

[tabatj]

Poor artist desperate for a job.

[planetdarwin]

It bothers me when people throw around scientific words to make their work sound more intelligent. She says "sonic algorithm" when it's really just a sound effect generator. It looks cool but I don't think it's as technologically important or novel as her tone of voice makes it seem.

[rasalghul5555]

planetD,

I agree I HATE when posers try to sound more credible by overusing jargon to sugarcoat what is less then is presented.

HOWever, I do not share with all the haters commenting on this vid. If we look at history, that is exactly what some people did in the 60's with lasers. People would dismiss it as a "neat, beam of light..." but not much else. It was a solution looking for a problem... It was not until over time we learned to apply towards computers, military, medical, military, etc

[Ramsez]

hoax?

[zassounotsukushi]

So... tell me again...

Why do we need a giant 3-story metal sphere to do these things?

[Zetimenvec]

we don't, the advances it helps will probably be underweighed by how much it costs to make/run/maintain

[tantzer]

They should charge tickets for it. School children and college kids could come there on field trips.

It would help to have higher resolution presentations. The 360 degrees view makes you feel like you're really there, which would be exhilarating.

You don't need this for science. But it's cool and it can pay for itself if they charge tickets.

[Zetimenvec]

I don't know, the graphical quality seems pretty lame.

[punkposer]

This machine would enable you to have a better connection...which would lead to a better understanding of w/e it is you are studying. Example, you can watch Nat Geo to learn about the Amazon, but to actually be in the Amazon, hearing the different sounds, seeing the true colors, actually smelling your surroundings, I guarantee you'll learn and retain so much more. I know being in this sphere isn't exactly being wherever in person, but its the closest to the real thing..

[edm418]

ask the x-men

[candlehawk]

my God...this is...amazing! True, this itself isn't the best, but what it can BECOME!! what we need are people to invest in this! get some Hollywood-grade graphics, and imagine!

[yamaha893]

isnt hearing the process of molecules running into each other and then into your eardrum? does it make sense to hear individual atoms? to hear light? what purpose does hearing have in this over visualisation? it seems redundant to me(?)

[candlehawk]

On the atomic scale, heat is noise.

[adamabra8]

Holy shit. Now THAT is a fantastic invention.

[gadzometer]

This is the result when we combine our right and left brain. Great stuff.

[ffangs]

the presenter's attitude kind of detracts from it. you can't claim to invent something that's so obvious.

[dannypancake]

Yes! It's Cerebro!

[sweetsummer24]

That thing isn't impressive at all, the visuals are really bad and sometimes laughable, especially the brain thing. You could get absolutely nothing out of it. Besides shes not the "INVENTOR0r" of this sphere, thats been around in literature for ages. And to sum it all up, she has the most annoying voice ever.

[simonbour]

THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

[mrkurt13]

She totally stole that from Professor X.

[mrkurt13]

This is different from a TV with speakers how?

[behglah]

it is spherical, and has a lady that describes it all inspiring like.

[Sedated3]

what a lame waste of money. art + science = fail

[ChowZeb]

haha

[semigotbanned]

nah, it must be cool to actually watch it in 3D inside a sphere...

[flobba123]

quantum ? me confused

[academiccuriosity]

It feels kind of narcissistic to say...but if this qualifies for TED, I think my research should make the cut...

[academiccuriosity]

Here's the problem I have with the three story X-Men sphere:

Everything you did...I just did on a Youtube screen.

Sure, the new visualization of data is cool. Sure, the "hearing" data is cool. Why does that require a super sphere?

[BBQPeanut]

Her voice is so bad it sounds like Stephen Hawking

[Thinking4You]

Useless.

[t0kt0k]

So... it's a big dome-shaped TV screen with some speakers.

[IMakeOrWatchVideos]

hey does it play call of duty?

[happosai21]

seeing general electric sponored research of the human brain and basics of life is disturbing at best..

GE is the worlds biggest weapons producer

[gREENbUILT21]

This is all a farce if its based on the fraudulent Cartesian planar coordinate system. I do like the creative aspect directed toward scientific understanding, though.

[Sharpshooterjoe]

tell me when they turn this into a video game

[LudicrousTachyon]

I prefer the simulations I come up with in my mind. The brain was just ugly. This is just an artist looking for an easy way out. Give her the data, she'll paint it on a huge dome and add some sound for things she can't figure out how to represent visually.

I don't see the advance.

[nilbud]

Glad to see Spore 2.0 is a step up.

[jwfcp]

seems like two things: visualizing scientific data in general and visualizing scientific data by using a giant dome- I just dont see anything wrong with using a plain old projector.

[BaileysBeads]

Yeah she didn't seem to have much problems explaining the sphere on a flat screen :-)

[GuyTM]

very cool, but couldn't all this stuff be done through VR rather than in a humongous metal sphere?

[BaileysBeads]

This seems more suited for groups.

[torberry]

yes... yes it could... and should

[MadSmokerBBQ]

annoying delivery

[elusivetantra]

I'll have to watch that again that's the best thing i've ever seen and heard in my life plug into the smart grid 5billion stars

[lvecsey]

It needs a conveyor belt, with appropriate switching system. This way if you're at your PC and your screen saver kicks in you can be whisked away to the AlloSphere.

[KaoriBlue]

Cool, sure. But I don't really see the point of having a huge three-story dome... wouldn't headgear, a dark room, and a good wireless connection suffice? In fact, that would be a heck of a lot more practical and useful for real scientists, engineers, and surgeons.

[nocellardoor]

can anybody tell me why it is of interest that you think the director sounds pretentious? would you be that critical if it was a man?

i think she sounds like she knows her stuff, maybe that makes you men out there scared. or are you all just superficial?

[cohenmkarnell]

hahaha, "you men out there"

[pacoaguitta]

Its the evolution of data análisis, the grandchild of graphs. I wonder what economic statistics look and sound like. (I think the art is necessary, I think the sound ads yet another imput for intuitive exploration). Its amazing.

[Xaulted]

X-men's Cerebral?  Neat!

[burn70u7]

Was the art really necessary?

[theseanze]

The lady sounds pretentiousm, but the work looks awesome!!! Virtual reality for the kinds of scientists who have never had the luxury of personally seeing and exploring the worlds they study.

[gtantidoto]

I would like to help out with this research. Tell me how.

[Saktoth]

Pretentious crap.

[ffunit]

cool

[some1honest]

So .......now what!?!?!?

[JamesTheTank]

And THAT is what TED is all about!

[bmacmillan]

Science and art seem more connected then I had once believed.

[zombiesmasher]

I can see it now, the Nintendo AlloSphere, comes with Electron Spin and Supermario Hydrogen Bond!

Silliness aside, these combinations of Math, Science and Art is exactly the sort of thing I could have spend hours upon hours exploring as a kid - I do hope it becomes more commonplace and accessible.

[masterlitheon]

nice !

[tetropods]

that's awesome

[budzaholic]

the astrophysics community could use this with the theory's they have

[JamesTheTank]

There are so many fields that could use this it deserves a nobel prize.