## 1 Introduction
### The Establishment of Immersive Analytics (IA)  
It is argued in the literature that the new immersive technologies and their interaction techniques offer new potential for reaching the objectives set for visual analytics (see \"Establishing Visual Analytics\" section). These technologies, notably VR, are usually defined based on their cognitive implications. [PERSON] [11] defined VR as: \"The use of computer technology to create the effect of an interactive three-dimensional world in which the objects have a sense of spatial presence.\"  
Over the past few years, visualization has greatly benefited multivariate/complex data [12; 13]. Lately, the virtual reality display devices including, Oculus Rift/Rift S, Samsung Gear, and HP Reverch G2, and mixed/augmented reality devices such as HoloLens (Microsoft) and Google glass [14; 15; 16] offer a better platform for visual analytics [17]. These technologies employ stereoscopy (a method for generating a feeling of depth for images with a great emphasis on binocularity) to build an involving and immersive virtual space [18]. They intrinsically offer more freedom to analyze and manipulate complex data compared to traditional 2D data representation systems. Various studies exist that employ immersive display devices for immersive analytics like network representation, scientific representation, and geospatial representation [19; 20; 21]. Additionally, the novel affordances of these technologies can benefit the data analytics field by:  
* Allowing a wider range of users to have the ability to employ data analytics by developing new systems that involve more of the basic human senses;
* Covering tasks that cannot be conducted using traditional desktop settings;
* Staying current with new technology trends that shape the way people interact and perform;
* Allowing users with different levels of expertise to perform data analytics easily. The possibility of achieving the goals listed above has attracted the attention of numerous researchers from different areas, including data analysis, visual analytics, VR and AR, human-computer interaction, computer graphics, etc. As mentioned before, the idea of immersing data into a virtual ambiance is not new [22]. Nevertheless, accepting the idea that data representation and visual analytics should consider new immersive technologies for building new analytics tools with advanced interaction techniques was first presented in 2014 when the \"Death of Desktop: Envisioning Visualization without Desktop Computing\" workshop was held. Over the next few years, the idea of implementing immersive technologies for visual analytics was given the name immersive analytics (IA) by researchers who were investigating different methods of information representation in these environments [23]. Consequently, various workshops have been held recently under the IA field umbrella in different parts of the worlds, attended by researchers and experts from areas like information visualization, human-computer interaction, and immersive AR and MR [24]. During these workshops, various ideas and techniques in the IA field were shared, perspectives were broadened, and the community of immersive analysts began expanding rapidly [25]. After the establishment of IA as an independent field, various immersive analytics tools have been introduced including DXR, an immersive analytics application that permits users to efficiently build visualizations through predefined mappings and graphs. IATK is a similar tool built to support large datasets (up to seven million points). These tools, although great examples IA system, do not take advantage of the real affordances of VR. Moreover, they don't focus on bettering the interaction techniques joining users and machines. This study introduces a new tool to the IA field. This tool is called the Immersive Virtual Exploratory Engine (IVEE) and aims to enhance the interface that stands between users and computers by implementing interaction techniques like those performed on a daily basis by users when handling real objects.