Virtual reality gives us new ways to represent ourselves with data. We’ll discuss ideas for merging virtual reality with Quantified Self, visualizing biometric data and exploring personal data models. There will be an Oculus Rift so people can experience VR first hand.

1. Q S A M S T E R D A M 2 0 1 4
B R E A K O U T S E S S I O N
Q S + V I R T U A L R E A L I T Y
O U R S E LV E S , V I R T U A L LY
M AY 1 0 T H , 2 0 1 4
Eric Blue
U: http://eric-blue.com
E: eric@traqs.me
T: @ericblue

2. OURSELVES, VIRTUALLY
QUANTIFIED SELF MEETS VIRTUAL REALITY
Virtual reality gives us new ways to represent ourselves with data. We’ll discuss
ideas for merging virtual reality with Quantified Self, visualizing biometric data
and exploring personal data models.
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3. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
SELF-TRACKING AND VIRTUAL REALITY EXPLORATION
Quantified Self
§ Better self-awareness through experimentation and tracking data points
§ Epiphanies and discoveries by visualization
§ Data -> Information -> Knowledge -> Action
Virtual Reality
§ Becoming more mainstream and accessible (e.g. Oculus Rift)
§ Ability to create a ‘virtual self’ and explore data in entirely new ways
§ Interact with your data: biometric, location, biofeedback, neurofeedback
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4. VR IS BECOMING MORE MAINSTREAM
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5. NOT JUST FANTASY: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS?
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6. THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS – WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
IDEAS [1]
What could you do with Virtual Reality and your self-tracking data?
§ Create a timeline and walkthrough where you can visualize metrics (activity level,
heart rate, blood work, 23andMe data) and actually interact with this data as
objects. Explore a three-dimensional (fourth if you add time) archive of your
biometric data.
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7. THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS – WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
IDEAS [2]
What could you do with Virtual Reality and your self-tracking data?
§ Visualize your brainwave data in real-time. Using NeuroSky, Emotiv, or other
consumer EEG devices you could view your brainwave data in real-time in a Virtual,
interactive 3D graph and experiment with Neurofeedback. How does your current
state affect focus levels and brain waves: Beta, Alpha, Theta, Data.
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8. THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS – WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
IDEAS [3]
What could you do with Virtual Reality and your self-tracking data?
§ Actually visit places you’ve been in the past. If you collect massive amounts of
geolocation data (latitude/longitude), imagine having a Google Streetview
experience where you can see where you been. BUT, being able to jump to your top
locations and even add contextual overlays like heatmaps. There already is an
Oculus Rift Google Street view application.
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9. THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS – WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
IDEAS [4]
What could you do with Virtual Reality and your self-tracking data?
§ Build your own life-like virtual double: your virtual, quantified self. This might sound
uncanny, but a company Infinite Realities is already developing and using gigapixel
scanning technology to create amazingly detailed virtual representations of people.
Interact with your own virtual double – having the model capturebio, neuro, physical
attributes, and even mood over time.
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10. THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS – WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
IDEAS [5]
What could you do with Virtual Reality and your self-tracking data?
§ Build your own virtual lifelogging storage unit or memory palace. Create 3D virtual
models of your favorite places or through image and video data you’ve collected
through lifelogging gadgets (think SenseCam). And, why not create an ACTUAL
virtual room or memory palace where you can place your lifelogging events –
pictures, memories, knowledge, etc. and make things easier to recall?
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11. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
SELF-TRACKING AND VIRTUAL REALITY EXPLORATION
WHAT ELSE IS POSSIBLE?
§ Other practical applications
§ Unique ways to visualize and interact to better lead to self-discovery
§ Opening up virtual models to let other people explore
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