Visualization and exploration of linked data using virtual reality

Kellmann, Alexander J, Postema, Max, de Keijser, Joris, Svetachov, Pjotr, Wilson, Rebecca C ORCID: 0000-0003-2294-593X, van Enckevort, Esther J and Swertz, Morris A (2024) Visualization and exploration of linked data using virtual reality DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION, 2024. baae008-. ISSN 1758-0463, 1758-0463

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Abstract

In this report, we analyse the use of virtual reality (VR) as a method to navigate and explore complex knowledge graphs. Over the past few decades, linked data technologies [Resource Description Framework (RDF) and Web Ontology Language (OWL)] have shown to be valuable to encode such graphs and many tools have emerged to interactively visualize RDF. However, as knowledge graphs get larger, most of these tools struggle with the limitations of 2D screens or 3D projections. Therefore, in this paper, we evaluate the use of VR to visually explore SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language (SPARQL) (construct) queries, including a series of tutorial videos that demonstrate the power of VR (see Graph2VR tutorial playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRQCsKSUyhNIdUzBNRTmE_JmuiOEZbdH). We first review existing methods for Linked Data visualization and then report the creation of a prototype, Graph2VR. Finally, we report a first evaluation of the use of VR for exploring linked data graphs. Our results show that most participants enjoyed testing Graph2VR and found it to be a useful tool for graph exploration and data discovery. The usability study also provides valuable insights for potential future improvements to Linked Data visualization in VR.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Language, Databases, Factual, Semantic Web, Virtual Reality
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2024 13:44
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 20:11
DOI:	10.1093/database/baae008
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3183043
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