Virtual Realities: Is there only one advanced image display that astronomers need?

TL;DR

This paper surveys astronomers' awareness and usage of advanced display technologies, finding limited adoption but potential for VR/MR headsets to replace other advanced displays due to their maturity.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the current state of advanced display usage in astronomy and highlights the need for increased awareness and software development.

Findings

Most astronomers use standard displays; few use advanced displays.

Many have seen or used VR/MR headsets but not for research.

VR/MR headsets are now mature enough to replace other advanced displays.

Abstract

Data visualisation is an essential ingredient of scientific analysis, discovery, and communication. Along with a human (to do the looking) and the data (something to look at), an image display device is a key component of any data visualisation workflow. For the purpose of this work, standard displays include combinations of laptop displays, peripheral monitors, tablet and smartphone screens, while the main categories of advanced displays are stereoscopic displays, tiled display walls, digital domes, virtual/mixed reality (VR/MR) head-mounted displays, and CAVE/CAVE2-style immersive rooms. We present the results of the second Advanced Image Displays for Astronomy (AIDA) survey, advertised to the membership of the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) during June-August 2021. The goal of this survey was to gather background information on the level of awareness and usage of advanced displays in astronomy and astrophysics research. From 17 complete survey responses, sampled from a population of ~750 ASA members, we infer that: (1) a high proportion of ASA members use standard displays but do not use advanced displays; (2) a moderate proportion have seen a VR/MR HMD, and may also have used one -- but not for research activities; and (3) there is a need for improved knowledge in general about advanced displays, along with relevant software or applications that can target specific science needs. We expect that this is compatible with the experiences of much of the international astronomy and astrophysics research community. We suggest that VR/MR head-mounted displays have now reached a level of technical maturity such that they could be used to replicate or replace the functionality of most other advanced displays.