Knowledge discovery through visualising using virtual reality

Knowledge discovery and visualisation are important techniques for discovering and understanding patterns in large data sets. The study presents the development of a three dimensional virtual reality model that assists the user to visually explore structures and relationships in the collected data. The three dimensional model uses a combination of nodes and paths to represent objects/actors and the strength/direction of the measured characteristic. Virtual reality provides the mechanism for manipulation of the developed model in real time. Specifically, we demonstrate the potential of this visual tool by having postgraduate students, organised into focus groups, engage in a knowledge discovery exercise with data collected in an academic work environment. The method adopted to convert the identified relationships into a virtual reality model is discussed, as well as some of the additional features that could be incorporated using such a method.