Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!know!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu
From: duncan@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Shan D Duncan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Scientific programs on Amiga
Message-ID: <6669@uwm.edu>
Date: 29 Sep 90 17:48:53 GMT
References: <1990Sep29.021658.26896@evax.arl.utexas.edu>
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Reply-To: duncan@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
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From article <1990Sep29.021658.26896@evax.arl.utexas.edu>, by hill@evax.arl.utexas.edu (Col. Ames and Pixel):
> 
>     My wish list:
> 
> 
>  1) Plotting program. Ability to plot xy, scatter, polar, parametric. Plot as
>       wire frame and ability to rotate (ala Calligari, and Lightwave with a 
>       cube, rectangle etc...) around all axes. Ability to figure volumes of 
>        closed solids, limited symbolic math, (find intersection of planes in 
>        y=mx+b format or others, min/max of f(x)'s.
> 
>  2) Vector Math - Simple 3D static systems. Normal finding etc...
> 
>  3) Something like LabView..... This is a real niche market, but I thought I'd
>       mention it.
> 
> 
>  4) An absolute "pie in the sky" -- A HP48SX emulator.
> 
>  
> 
>     
> -- 
>  adam hill                                   Everybody lies about sex.     
>  hill@evax.arl.utexas.edu    BOING!4Ever     Rub HER feet!
>                                              It's better to copulate than never
>  AmigaDos2.0 - A VW with $10,000 in options.         --Robert A. Heinlein





I refer to the opening statement in an article in the Oct. issue
of Byte "Science goes visual on the mac" - Don Crabb where he
says just a few years ago the Mac lacked good scientific software
meaning :

* statistical analysis
* laboratory telemetry
* simulation systems
* visualization software



(to name a few categories)

He cites an underpowered machine as a prime reason, there are
other reasons I'm sure BUT...  He mentions a set of "scientific
visualization" software in the public domain for the Mac
developed by Brad Fortner's Mac visulation group at the National
Center for SuperComputer Appliications - Univ. of Il. 

Transform
View
Format
Dicer

Transform allows one to manipulate floating point data and
represent the data in various ways.  It supports HDF and provides
routines in C and FORTRAN as libraries.


View appears to be a type of image analysis program and an
animation program.

Format a presentation program.

Dicer lets you see you data as a 3D cube you can then slice in
any place and change any of the visualization factors (color, and
surface shades).

He also mentions that Fortner has started a new company to
market a commercial version of the NCSA products.



I recently attended a presentation where the analysis was really
hindered by linear thinking.   It really needed a multivariate approach
bur was  being forced into univariate...  If only the author
had been able to see how their data interacted... perhaps being
able represent in different ways...

I mention these products because they seem to be in keeping with
Commodore's approach that the amiga is a computer for the
creative mind and IF they are freely available might be a place
to start for porting.