Thomas DeFanti Founds Electronic Visualization Lab (EVL)

Founded by Thomas DeFanti and Dan Sandin, the Electronic Visualization Lab (EVL) is still in existence today. EVL is a research lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago focused on computer science and advanced technologies. It specializes in collaborative visualization, virtual reality and data science. Over the years, they’ve created innovative technologies like the CAVE virtual reality system (90s) and SAGE graphics environment (2000s). They work on connecting scientists and engineers with tools to visualize complex data, allowing them to gain insights. EVL also collaborates globally and is supported by organizations like the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and more.