## 2 Materials and Methods
### IVEE Functionality
The data calculation is performed in R on a thread that is separate from the virtual environment, which allows users to move around when data crunching is happening, without any frame rate loss. To confirm this configuration and send the arguments to R, users create one final object by swiping over to the \"RunDataManager\" element and clicking \"Run\" to execute (Figure 8). On the \"RunDataManager\" object, the loading circle indicates that R is performing the calculations needed to generate the underlying structure of the chosen plot (Figure 8). Once that file is generated by R, C# reads it in and creates a three-dimensional plot, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. To subset data, users grab the \"Lasso\" sphere and bring it into contact with the visualization so that the points the users want to subset are inside the sphere (Figure 10). The sphere is a 3D scalable object that users can amplify or downsize to fit their desired points. The engine translates this information back to its backend to generate a file that contains the subset data only. The generated file is automatically stored in the IVEE Unity folder, and users can access it by simply pressing the A button and swiping over to the \"Files\" element. The nested folders in the \"Files\" element now have an additional folder that contains a portion of the original data that users selected. Users can now visualize the new dataset using other visualizations or create another subset. The action of simply grabbing the \"Lasso\" sphere and bringing it into close contact with the desired portion of data makes the sub-setting task much easier and more intuitive than in any other tool. Users do not have to worry about how they can subset data; instead, they subset intuitively within the virtual environment. Cleary, making analytics intuitive helps save time and effort when completing tasks. Figure 10: Lasso system. (**a**) 3D Lasso sphere. (**b**) Moving the sphere towards the graph. (**c**) Position the sphere into the desired data points. (**d**) Access the new subsetted data using the menu system. (**e**) Visualize the subsetted data. The merge feature is as easy to perform as the subset feature. If users generate another visualization, they can merge it with the first visualization by grabbing both and bringing them closer to one another. This instantly results in the creation of a combined plot with the two selected graphs on it (Figure 11). We envision including more features in the future to make IVEE the first fully interactive immersive space in the field of analytics. Figure 12 shows the collaboration between various individuals in the immersive space. This virtual collaboration can occur remotely (i.e., users do not have to be present in the same physical environment, and each user can use a separate computer, an Oculus set, and a separate network to connect with other users) or in the same physical space as long as each user has a computer and a headset. Once connected, each user impersonates an avatar (Figure 12) and can move freely around in the virtual space using the touch controllers. Users can talk to each other in the virtual space and interact with each other as if they were present physically in a real environment. All individuals present in the scene can perform the tasks accommodated by this VR version, while others can witness the work instantly as if they were there. In addition, the individuals present in the virtual scene can interact with each other's work and perform further analytics on it as if they are all present in a real-world setting. These individuals can communicate with each other through both gestures and audio. Figure 11: The merge element system (**a**) A side view. (**b**) A front view of the graph. Figure 12: Collaboration in IVEE.