Visualization

Computer graphics is an extremely powerful means to communicate large or complex sets of information. Our staff are available to provide you with assistance in the use of our graphics and visualization packages, the development of custom computer graphics tools, the application of graphics algorithms, and the conversion of data into effective graphical representations

Examples of some of the visualizations produced in conjunction with our staff and/or produced on our systems may be viewed in our visualization gallery.

We also support a High Performance Computing in the Arts program bringing together artists and technologists. Through this program we have developed a number of 3D virtual environments.

SCV's Laboratory for Immersive Virtual Environments (LIVE) supports research on virtual reality by providing hardware and software for immersive experiences. These systems use stereoscopic displays to create the illusion of three dimensions and provide a variety of input and tracking systems to interact with the scene. Most of these facilities are housed in our Computer Graphics Lab.

SCV's premier visualization facility is a 15' x 8' stereoscopic display wall which is capable of displaying extremely high-resolution (18 MPixel) images. The image on the wall is rear-projected from an array of 24 projectors which are in turn driven by 24 Linux-based computers. These computers are part of the larger SCV Linux cluster which can be used to generate or process data for the display computers. Unlike our other immersive systems which use active electronics for stereopsis, this system uses simple polarizing filters and glasses. A variety of input devices are available for interaction.

The Computer Graphics Lab houses facilities which are available for faculty, graduate students, and students in courses or doing research, and need the specialized capabilities of the Lab.

Programs for the virtual environment systems use software which includes the CAVE library, Performer, OpenGL, Open Inventor, VTK, OpenDX, WireGL/Chromium, and SCV's in-house DAFFIE system.