VizChitra 2025

Session Description
Shaders are the secret weapon behind today’s most immersive data art, 3D dashboards, and real-time visualisations. Yet, they’re often dismissed as “too technical” for dataviz practitioners.

This lightning talk aims to be a 101-level exploration. After a brief introduction, the bulk of the talk will comprise a live demo of how just a few lines of code can use basic math to visualize millions of data points, simulate dynamic lighting, and even fake 3D geometry, all running at 60 FPS on your GPU.

This session isn’t about mastering shader theory. It’s about empowering the audience to experiment. The talk will conclude by connecting the demonstrated techniques to real-world use cases: data sculptures, VR environments, and interactive installations. The point is to present shaders not as a barrier but as a playground for creativity.

Key Takeaways

• Shaders are simpler than you think + have an insane ‘code : visual-wow-factor ROI’.
• Stealable, simple workflows to prototype shader-driven dataviz in minutes (no WebGL setup required).

Audience

• Data visualization designers craving dynamic, high-performance visuals.
• Developers curious about GPU programming for 3D dataviz.
• Tech-savvy artists exploring data-driven generative art.
  (No shader experience needed! Basic coding familiarity recommended.)

Why It Fits the Conference Themes

• Directly ties to 3D/AR/VR via GPU-native rendering.
• Demos how shaders create immersive, real-time data art.
• Bridges AI/GPU tech with creative coding.

About Me
Sure! Here’s a cleaner, slightly more polished version that keeps it natural:

About Me
I’m a final-year Computer Science undergrad at IIIT Hyderabad, with research experience in 3D rendering and HCI. I also work as a freelance designer, mostly with startups, non-profits, and local community projects (portfolio). Right now, I’m a visiting researcher at the Multimedia Lab at the University of Quebec and a Software Engineering Intern at Nika, a geospatial AI startup based in Singapore.