Enhancing the understanding of statistical data through the creation of physical objects

Abstract: For many people outside of the scientific community statistical information and graphics remain abstract and unintelligible. This research begins to investigate how we might interrogate statistical information from the engineering sector through the creation of material/physical objects, with the intention of bringing better understanding and increased accessibility to scientific data. This inquiry will be achieved through a strategy of media transformations that move information sources between digital and material environments, for example; by translating digital statistics into 3D computer models, which can then be output into real-world objects using 3D printing techniques. Undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, technologists and end-user communities the project aims to investigate how these translation strategies can be used to communicate and transfer knowledge between different stakeholders. User centered activities will be conducted to explore what visual metaphors might be appropriate for different contexts.