The LED wall
Researchers in the Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI) and the Digital Innovation Facility (DIF) are using a LED wall to showcase high definition 2D and 3D visualisations, geospatially located data and immersive VR environments to develop, exchange and test ideas for innovative ways of viewing and interacting with complex datasets to facilitate interpretation.
The infrastructure consists of high quality input and output devices, resulting in a dynamic and immersive environment. For example, the tracking camera array is used for interaction purposes, providing dynamic eyepoint tracking and wireless device support.
The touch table in front of the LED display mirrors the primary display with a range of applications running on a huge collaborative desktop. The audio array provides a high quality sound field for the audience. An auxiliary video input means that external parties have a high resolution 4K input and images in picture feeds. In addition, a camera and microphone enables collaborative on-line calls via Zoom, Teams and similar applications.
The LED video wall operates under normal lighting conditions, ensuring that the room is a multifunctional space which can be utilised for different purposes across the university, including collaborative internal/external research, demonstrations, presentations, seminars and training programmes.
The video wall solution was developed in collaboration with Professor Kay O’Halloran from the Department of Communication and Media and Co-Director of the Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI), University of Liverpool, Dr Simon Campion, specialist in VR and immersive environments, from the Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), University of Liverpool, and colleagues from ST Engineering Antycip SAS.
Current projects
Healthcare communications and information distortion in crisis situations: The case of COVID-19 in Merseyside
The LED wall is being used to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on communities in Merseyside. The project involves analysing the official healthcare messages, news media releases, public forums and social media posts to understand public reactions to official information and guidance and the concerns and issues which were raised as a result.
Specifically, the language, images and videos which circulated during the pandemic and the ways in which information was distorted, either unintentionally or deliberately, are being studied. The views and emotions expressed in the communications will be interpreted according to contextual factors (for example, spatial location, population data, vaccination rates) at key times during the pandemic.
The approach involves using the LED display to layer and analyse the different communications on a virtual 3D map of Liverpool City Region. The goal is to improve the ways in which information and guidance are provided to communities, and to address public concerns as they arise in the future. In addition, the project will result in new ways of detecting misleading content so communities are well placed to make informed decisions during times of extreme risk.
The project is led by Professor Kay O’Halloran, from the Department of Communication and Media and Co-Director of the Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI), University of Liverpool. The research team members are: Professor Simeon Yates, Department of Communication and Media and Co-Director of the Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI), University of Liverpool; Dr Mark Pogson, Department of Communication and Media and Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI), University of Liverpool; Dr Konstantin Vikhorev, Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), University of Liverpool; Professor Alex Singleton, Department of Geography and Planning, Director of the ESRC Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) and Director of the ESRC Data Analytics & Society CDT, University of Liverpool; Dr Francisco Rowe, Department of Geography and Planning and Director of the Geographic Data Science Lab, University of Liverpool; and Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health, Liverpool City Council.
The project is funded by AVIVA through The Pandemic Institute, University of Liverpool.
Digital context-based methods for social listening to understand the social/cultural impact of Eurovision in Liverpool
The LED wall is being used to investigate the social/cultural impact of Eurovision on communities in Merseyside by analysing BBC broadcasts, news media releases, public forums and social media posts to understand public reactions and engagement with the events.
The aim is to study how online media and social media data can be analysed to better understand the social-cultural value and impact from communities’ engagement with BBC coverage and participation in activities relating to Eurovision.
The views and emotions expressed in the communications will be interpreted according to contextual factors (for example, spatial location, time, performance) during and following Eurovision events. The approach involves layering and analysing the different online and social media communications on a virtual 3D map of Liverpool City Region using the LED display.
The goal is to understand the dynamics of local engagement with Eurovision and the public views and concerns which subsequently arise. In addition to monitoring the local impact of Eurovision, the project will explore new methodologies for understanding the meanings arising from linguistic, visual and audio choices in digital media which can be used to study other major events. The assessment of the reusability of the approach for future evaluation of events by the University, BBC and other media stakeholders will be a key outcome from the project.
The research team members are: Professor Simeon Yates, Department of Communication and Media and Co-Director of the Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI), University of Liverpool; Professor Kay O’Halloran, Department of Communication and Media and Co-Director of the Digital Media & Society Institute (DMSI), University of Liverpool; Dr Rhianne Jones, Research Lead, BBC Research and Development; Tom Carr, Senior Economic Policy Advisor, BBC; Dr Konstantin Vikhorev, Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), University of Liverpool; Professor Alex Singleton, Department of Geography and Planning, Director of the ESRC Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) and Director of the ESRC Data Analytics & Society CDT, University of Liverpool; and Dr Francisco Rowe, Department of Geography and Planning and Director of the Geographic Data Science Lab, University of Liverpool.
The project is a collaboration between the University of Liverpool and the BBC, funded by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) and Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), University of Liverpool.
Back to: Digital Media & Society Institute