The Data Interaction and Visualization Lab, in short DIV-Lab is an interdisciplinary research laboratory located in the School of Computer Science at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. We specialize in Data Visualization, Perception and Cognition Science, Computer Graphics, and applied Artificial Intelligence. Our primary focus is on creating visual representations and interfaces that enhance understanding, interaction, and development of computational models. The DIV-Lab explores the intersection of data science, visual cognition, and computer graphics in order to understand how people make sense of visual information, and then leverage that knowledge to design innovative visualization systems that drive discovery across a wide range of domains, from psychology to communication to topology. Our ultimate mission is to facilitate the dialog between people and technologies, enabling discovery and advancing the state of the art in visual design and data interpretation. Through close collaboration with scholars and researchers, we strive to create interfaces and tools that empower users to explore, analyze, and gain valuable insights from complex data.

Our research focus is on:

• Constructing Optimal Visualization Design

At DIV-Lab, our research on constructing optimal visualization design focuses on developing visualization frameworks that align visual encoding, task demands, and design choices to enhance data interpretation and decision-making. We aim to bridge the gap between abstract design guidelines and real-world applications by creating task-optimized visualizations—designs tailored to support specific analytical goals with greater clarity and efficiency. We build tools and frameworks that produce more precise, less ambiguous data presentations by systematically studying the interplay between visualization types, low-level tasks, and encoding strategies. This leads to improved performance, greater decision confidence, and more robust, scalable visual analytics systems.

• Perception, Cognition and Visualization

At DIV-Lab, our research focuses on the intersection of perception, cognition, and data visualization. We explore how people visually interpret and mentally process complex data through empirical studies and cognitive modeling. We aim to design more intuitive, scalable, and insight-driven visual representations by understanding the perceptual and cognitive mechanisms behind visualization comprehension. Our work combines human-centered design with empirical research findings to develop tools and systems that improve how visualizations communicate information—ultimately enabling clearer thinking and better decision-making across diverse domains.

• Human Centered Computing and Interfaces

At DIV-Lab, our Human-Centered Computing and Interfaces research focuses on enabling effective collaboration between people and intelligent systems. We design interactive visualizations that make complex machine-learning models more transparent, supporting joint human-AI analysis and decision-making. Additionally, we explore how emerging technologies—such as mobile and mixed reality interfaces—can transform data interaction by embedding visualizations into real-world contexts. Through these innovations, we aim to create intuitive, immersive systems that enhance human understanding, insight, and action.