1. The Pentacle Method Towards a Visual Outcome Based Research Methodology Drew Baker Kings Visualisation Lab

2. The Project Context The view that visualisations are simply illustrative. The belief that visualisations are reconstructions and show the truth. The hyper-reality paradox. The near ubiquitous use of visualisations. The access to visualisation equipment. The sheer number of poor quality visualisations.

3. Objectives of the Method Provide a structure to development where outputs are fuzzy. Integrate emergent research discoveries within the whole development cycle. Create loose connectivity modules. Recording of decision, reasoning discarded evidence, and solutions. Rationalise the code and fix paradigm. Capitalisation of first blush enthusiasm.

4. Identified Work Tasks Point 1 – Research Collation of base project material/ resources. Point 2 – Evaluation Selection of project material/resources. Object refinement/sub specification. Point 3 – Behaviour Non physical attribute creation. Point 4 – Appearance Physical attributes creation. Point 5 – Assimilation Inclusion in to scene graph. Archiving of object/paradata artefacts.

5. Development Cycle Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation Project

6. Research Point Main Task Collate all available data. Record associated metadata. Subtasks Evaluate the scope of the project. Specify behaviours. Specify appearance. Check library for extant objects. Next Task Evaluation.

7. Research Matrix Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation Project

8. Evaluation Point Main Task Assess all available data. Refine (sub) project scope. Record reasoning for used resources. Subtasks Ensure adequate research to proceed. Check behaviours appropriate. Define appearance elements. Evaluate library objects. Next Task Behavior.

9. Evaluation Matrix Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation

10. Behaviour Point Main Task Create object behaviour. Subtasks Ensure specification matches research requirements. Check code for refinement. Check object behaviour appearance compliance. Check library objects for extant solutions. Next Task Appearance.

11. Behaviour Matrix Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation

12. Appearance Point Main Task Create object appearance. Subtasks Ensure appearance matches research requirements. Check appearance for refinement. Check object behaviour works with appearance. Check library objects for extant solutions. Next Task Assimilation.

13. Appearance Matrix Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation

14. Assimilation Point Main Task Collate all metadata, paradata, behaviour and appearance resources. Add object to scene and to library Subtasks Ensure research requirements met. Ensure specification adherence. Check object behaviour works within scene and is documented. Check object appearance works within scene and resources are collected. Next Task Research, for next phase or as unified model.

15. Assimilation Matrix Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation Project

16. Method Matrix Research EvaluationBehaviour Appearance Assimilation

17. Point Processes Sign off acceptance. Check incoming plan complete. Conduct point activity. Record any emergent refinement. Record activity paradata. Record activity metadata. Sign off hand over. Check that process is complete. Check outgoing plan complete.

18. Provisions of the Method Logical division of work tasks. Integration of emerging discoveries though subproject management. Distributed work force potential. Recording of paradata and metadata. Creation of discreet object libraries. Integration of prototype experimentation. Collaboration of all stakeholders at all stages of development. Auditable hand over procedure.

19. Thank you for your attention. Drew Baker Kings Visualisation Lab Centre for Computing in the Humanities Kings College London drew.baker@kcl.ac.uk http://www.kvl.cch.kcl.ac.uk