Interactive 3D Visualization of Historical Theory

Summary

The project titled “Interactive 3D Visualization of Historical Theory: How Interaction Design and Front-End Development Can Create an Engaging Learning Resource” explores the implementation of interaction design and web development to visualize a historical theory. Starting as an undefined concept, the project evolved into a concrete solution that combines interaction design, web development, and 3D elements to present the theory. The process involved researching the target audience and existing solutions, developing prototypes and design solutions, and conducting user testing to refine the final product—a website with interactive elements that visualize the historical theory. The visualization has provided the client with new insights into how the historical model works and has contributed to the further development of the concept. The solution will be used for future research and teaching of the theory as part of a project called Digital History Lab at the University of Agder. The motivation behind this project was to explore different methods and tools to find innovative solutions. The project requirements included presenting a 3D model on a website that explains the concept and can be adjusted with different values.

The product includes a model that presents history along the axes of time, place, norms, and rules. The 3D model was created using Blender and visualized on a website using the JavaScript library three.js. The website consists of various pages, including one that explains the theory behind the model, another that showcases the model with a specific example, and a page where users can interact with the model by adjusting values along the different axes. The website serves as an open educational resource for lecturers and students, aiming to visualize and facilitate the dissemination of the theory.

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