@inproceedings{SiqueiraRodriguesRiehmZachowetal., author = {Siqueira Rodrigues, Lucas and Riehm, Felix and Zachow, Stefan and Israel, Johann Habakuk}, title = {VoxSculpt: An Open-Source Voxel Library for Tomographic Volume Sculpting in Virtual Reality}, series = {2023 9th International Conference on Virtual Reality (ICVR), Xianyang, China, 2023}, booktitle = {2023 9th International Conference on Virtual Reality (ICVR), Xianyang, China, 2023}, doi = {10.1109/ICVR57957.2023.10169420}, pages = {515 -- 523}, abstract = {Manual processing of tomographic data volumes, such as interactive image segmentation in medicine or paleontology, is considered a time-consuming and cumbersome endeavor. Immersive volume sculpting stands as a potential solution to improve its efficiency and intuitiveness. However, current open-source software solutions do not yield the required performance and functionalities. We address this issue by contributing a novel open-source game engine voxel library that supports real-time immersive volume sculpting. Our design leverages GPU instancing, parallel computing, and a chunk-based data structure to optimize collision detection and rendering. We have implemented features that enable fast voxel interaction and improve precision. Our benchmark evaluation indicates that our implementation offers a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art and can render and modify millions of visible voxels while maintaining stable performance for real-time interaction in virtual reality.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SiqueiraRodriguesNyakaturaZachowetal., author = {Siqueira Rodrigues, Lucas and Nyakatura, John and Zachow, Stefan and Israel, Johann Habakuk}, title = {Design Challenges and Opportunities of Fossil Preparation Tools and Methods}, series = {Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Culture and Computer Science: Code and Materiality}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Culture and Computer Science: Code and Materiality}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery}, address = {New York, NY, USA}, doi = {10.1145/3623462.3623470}, abstract = {Fossil preparation is the activity of processing paleontological specimens for research and exhibition purposes. In addition to traditional mechanical extraction of fossils, preparation presently comprises non-destructive digital methods that are part of a relatively new field, namely virtual paleontology. Despite significant technological advances, both traditional and digital preparation remain cumbersome and time-consuming endeavors. However, this field has received scarce attention from a human-computer interaction perspective. The present study aims to elucidate the state-of-the-art for paleontological fossil preparation in order to determine its main challenges and start a conversation regarding opportunities for creating novel designs that tackle the field's current issues. We conducted a qualitative study involving both technical preparators and virtual paleontologists. The study was divided into two parts: First, we assembled technical preparators and paleontology researchers in a focus group session to discuss their workflows, obtain a preliminary understanding of their issues, and ideate solutions based on their counterparts' workflows. Next, we conducted a series of contextual inquiries involving direct observation and semi-structured in-depth interviews. We transcribed our recordings and examined the data through theoretical and inductive thematic analysis, clustering emerging themes and applying concepts from human-computer interaction and related fields. Our findings report on challenges faced by traditional and digital fossil preparators and potential opportunities to improve their tools and workflows. We contribute with a novel analysis of fossil preparation from an HCI perspective.}, language = {en} }