Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!shelby!helens!baroque!jim From: jim@baroque.Stanford.EDU (James Helman) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: Scientific Visualization again Message-ID: Date: 4 Dec 89 21:44:19 GMT References: <11726@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <1989Nov25.142552.1702@hellgate.utah.edu> <3399@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <5646@eos.UUCP> <1989Nov30.222404.2817@csustan.CSUStan.Edu> <7153@portia.Stanford.EDU> Sender: news@helens.STANFORD.EDU Organization: Stanford University Lines: 41 In-reply-to: rick@hanauma.stanford.edu's message of 1 Dec 89 04:55:41 GMT Concerning my distinction between visualization for scientists (NerdVis), students (EdVis) and promotion (ShowVis), rick@hanauma.stanford.edu (Richard Ottolini) writes: I think this distinction is mainly one of quality. In our laboratory our better research graphics software migrates into courseware. Better is defined as generalized to many datasets and an easy-to-use interface. Certainly given software which is totally complete and perfectly easy to use, running on hardware which can perform arbitarily fast computations and instantaneous graphics rendering, the distinctions vanish. When that day comes, my workstation (or workbook) will only need to run one metaprogram. As we approach that day, large simulations can be fully integrated with interactive visualization. Slick photorealistic rendering can be integrated with extensible measurement tools. But this is still quite a ways off given limited resources and different priorities. EdVis needs to have low cost, and interaction with the simulation; problem complexity can be sacrificed. NerdVis requires the handling of large data sets and capabilites for accuarate measurement; glitzy graphics aren't as important. ShowVis needs to have a professional look with higher quality graphics, good narration and sequencing; getting precise quantitative information is not vital. Here are the relative importance of some capablities as I see them (opinions will vary): Priorities EdVis NerdVis ShowVis Interactivity High Med Low Measurement Med High Med Slickness Low Low High As long as hardware and software resources have to be allocated from limited pools of $$$, talent and technology, I think the best systems will be those designed for one particular purpose. Jim Helman Department of Applied Physics P.O. Box 10494 Stanford University Stanford, CA 94309 (jim@thrush.stanford.edu) (415) 723-4940 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com