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From: bagwill@swe.ncsl.nist.gov (Bob Bagwill)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.visualization
Subject: Re: Out of the lab, into the classroom
Keywords: reuse fabulous
Message-ID: <1151@durer.cme.nist.gov>
Date: 4 Apr 91 14:12:48 GMT
References: <1991Apr2.202227.13796@agate.berkeley.edu> <1991Apr3.172156.3960@nas.nasa.gov> <1991Apr3.193914.4569@agate.berkeley.edu> <1991Apr3.215031.7763@nas.nasa.gov>
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Reply-To: bagwill@swe.ncsl.nist.gov (Bob Bagwill)
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IMHO, one use for visualization will be 'garbage picking', i.e. going through
existing (low-cost) data sets looking for new goodies.  Most of us can't
afford to build a radio telescope, but with a workstation, software, and
CD-ROM's (or equivalent) containing "free" (already collected and paid for
by someone else) data, you've got a virtual telescope on your desk.

A side-effect of visualization technology might be that scientists
will start collecting data with the idea that it must be visualizable.

On the one hand, the synthetic effort necessary to pre-visualize the data
might lead to new insights.

On the other hand, scientists may ignore useful data because it doesn't make
a pretty picture.  Speaking from zero knowledge, I would guess that
grant committees and other investors like pretty pictures.  Scene from
NSF committee of the future :-)

    And opening our fabulous Spring Visualization line-up is
    Gizmo Gearloose of PolyTech with his `Visualization of the
    Distribution of Atypical Incisor Formation in Lower
    Mammals'.  Rendered with the exciting XIPAR multi-
    dimenionsal shader, his creation uses a daring palette of
    hot pinks and blues on a black background.  Way to go, Gizmo!

Bob Bagwill