Theme 8: Systems and Tools

This theme contains descriptions of a wide variety of tools and systems currently in existence. The classification used is by multi-purpose tools and specialized systems.

(8.1) Wide variety of computer tools and integrated systems:

There have been a wide variety of computer tools and integrated systems developed for visualizing the various types of data from the many disciplines that are active in this field. This chapter is grouped into two types: Multi-purpose tools and Specialized systems.

(8.2) Discuss multi-purpose tools (to handle wide variety of data, independent of a discipline):

The multi-purpose tools have been developed to handle a wide variety of data, independent of a discipline, although in many case it was a specific discipline that motivated the development. The tools range from languages that require the user to write complex and detailed programs that allow the user to manipulate the date in a very easy and convenient manner to produce complex visualizations.

(8.3) Discuss specialized systems (developed for specific disciplines) and are tailored for the unique date in that field):

The specialized systems have been developed for specific disciplines and are tailored for the unique data in that field. For example, GIS (geographic information systems) manipulate and display geographic based date to create maps. Typically such systems are large and complex and able to produce complex visualizations. However, they typically take significant amounts of time to learn and master since the they have many modes of operation and features.

(8.4) Examples of multi-purpose tools

(8.4.1) Languages and Libraries:

(8.4.1.1) The languages range from the traditional computer programming language such as Visual Basic with its own graphics routines embedded in the language, to C, and C++ where the user writes a structured program that interfaces to a graphics library such as OpenGL and OpenInventor. These examples produce anywhere from a simple presentation to complex simulations and animation. e.g. OpenGL, OpenInventor, VRML

(8.4.1.2) Graphics Systems for modeling, such as 3D Studio, Wavefront, SoftImage, MacroMedia Director. Recently a new and higher level set of visual languages have been developed that operate over networks and allow the user to manipulate and interact with the visual display. These include JAVA and VRML.

(8.4.1.3) OpenGL - A set of graphics routines originally developed by SGI that are called from C and C++ to manipulate data and graphical images.

(8.4.1.4) VRML - Virtual Reality Modeling Language

(8.4.1.5) Visual Basic - An extension of the original BASIC language to include structure and embedded graphics routines. It has the added value of interacting with any of the MicroSoft systems using OLE and ….

(8.4.1.6) C++ - The extension of the C language to include work with objects and to interact with the OpenGL API.

(8.4.1.7) Java

(8.4.1.8) OpenInventor - It is both a graphics library and a graphics programming model based on OpenGL and developed by SGI.

(8.4.2) Graphics Systems - modeling

(8.4.2.1) A number of high level modeling systems have been developed and are used extensively in the entertainment industry to create the complex models, render them, and produce animations and simulations. The modeling systems are based on surface models and have a rich set of tools and features to produce very complex models. They are also able to interface with other graphics systems to produce special effects so important to the entertainment.
 
(8.4.2.2) 3D Studio
(8.4.2.3) Wavefront
(8.4.2.4) SoftImage
(8.4.2.5) MacroMedia Director
(8.4.2.6) Multigen

(8.4.3) Graphics Systems - rendering

(8.4.3.1) Lightscape
(8.4.3.2) Blue Moon (free)
(8.4.3.3) Radiance
(8.4.3.4) POVRay (free)

(8.4.4) General Visualization Systems:

(8.4.4.1) IRIS Explorer (NAG)
(8.4.4.2) Data Explorer (DX)
(8.4.4.3) Ensight (MPGS)
(8.4.4.4) Khoros
(8.4.4.5) IDL
(8.4.4.6) SpyGlass (Fortner Research)
(8.4.4.7) Vis5D

(8.4.5) Symbolic Manipulation Systems

(8.4.5.1) MATLAB
(8.4.5.2) Maple
(8.4.5.3) Mathematica

(8.4.6) Automated Systems

(8.4.6.1) SAGE, VISAGE
(8.4.6.2) APT
(8.4.6.3) AutoVisual
(8.4.6.4) BOZ (Casner)

(8.4.7) spreadsheets

(8.4.8) Paint/Draw Programs

(8.5) Specialized Systems

(8.5.1) GIS Systems, e.g. Arc/Info and ArcView (ESRI), MGE (Intergraph), Small World Systems (SWS), GRASS

(8.5.2) Data Mining, e.g. MineSet, DataMine, Clementine, NetMAP

(8.5.3) CAD Systeme, e.g. Catia, Solidworks

(8.5.4) Bimolecular

(8.5.5) Chemistry

(8.5.6) Physics

(8.5.7) Mathematics

(8.5.8) Statistics, e.g. S, S plus, SAS

(8.5.9) CFD, e.g. FAST

(8.5.10) Web Visualization, e.g. MS Frontpage