Observation and interaction are fundamental aspects of empirical scientific research. While individual requirements for observation and interaction vary across disciplines, there are important common elements. These "common elements" are the basis of the $15 billion dollar laboratory automation industry. The United States presently leads the world in this industry, providing products for sample manipulation, sensing (e.g. microscopic and macroscopic imaging devices), data analysis (e.g. image

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... ocessing, 3D modeling, exploratory data analysis), and humancomputer interfaces (e.g. computer graphics, visualization).