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From: bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu (David E. Bernholdt)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.visualization
Subject: Re: Crystal Eyes
Message-ID: <1185@red.qtp.ufl.edu>
Date: 15 Nov 90 02:35:36 GMT
References: <1990Nov14.201940.23433@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Reply-To: bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu (David E. Bernholdt)
Organization: University of Florida Quantum Theory Project
Lines: 42

In article <1990Nov14.201940.23433@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> andyrose@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Andy Rose) writes:
>However, if you have stereo vision (call it binocular disparity, or what you
>will) you "see" much better.  A swirl of dots will jump out at you.  Words,
>as usual, don't do justice to the effect so see it yourself.
>
>Because you can do much better with stereopairs than with all the fancy
>rendering stuff, it is more COST-EFFECTIVE to use your compute power to
>generate a left eye view and a right eye view in a simple model rather
>than a monocular view with all the bells and whistles.
>
>... I heard (SIGGRAPH) that powerstation SGIs have been shipped with
>stereo ready monitors for some time now.  I think that means they 
>can display 120HZ.

You might be interested in the CAChe (Computer Aided Chemistry) system
from Tektronix.  It is a software/hardware package intended, as the
name says, at chemists, and makes use of a stereo monitor for
visualization.

The hardware is based on a MacII.  A special graphics display board is
used and one or more 88000-based co-processor baords may be used for
extra CPU power.  The display is a Tektronix 120Hz stereo monitor with
a liquid crystal shutter.  The user wears polarized glasses.  A
trackball system is used to give ther user the ability to manipulate
objects easily in 3D.

The software, combined with the aforementioned hardware allows you to
build and study molecules; computing quantities of interest, and
displaying them in 3D. The system works wonderfully, and I think is
unbeatable for _manipulation_ of complex 3D objects (like molecules).

Admittedly the software is aimed at chemists, but I think it is
excellently executed and if you have the opportunity, its worth taking
one out for a spin.  I _think_ they may now sell pieces separately, so
that you wouldn't have to get the chemistry software if you don't want
it.  Anybody interested in more information should contact me by
email.
-- 
David Bernholdt			bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu
Quantum Theory Project		bernhold@ufpine.bitnet
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL  32611		904/392 6365