Pathways to Visualization

In order from least to greatest in terms of graphics knowledge, inversely related to how much time you spend analyzing your data.

• Write your own graphics renderer.

• Use an existing API to render graphics primitives. (Examples OpenGL (SGI,Wintel,Sun), Performer (SGI), Fahrenheit (SGI & Wintel), Direct3D (Wintel machines), Quicktime 3D (Mac)

• Freeware, such as VolVis or Vtk which does the rendering and the implements the algorithms, but you will have to spend time learning to program it and the support may be limited.

• Commercial package with GUI or command line interface,

Although, audio and haptic feedback are both of growing importance in the field of scientific visualization, we will not consider them here.

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