Misplaced Pages

#123876

54-464: SGI Onyx is a series of visualization systems designed and manufactured by SGI , introduced in 1993 and offered in two models, deskside and rackmount , codenamed Eveready and Terminator respectively. The Onyx's basic system architecture is based on the SGI Challenge servers, but with graphics hardware. The Onyx was employed in early 1995 for development kits used to produce software for

108-407: A simulation to create an image of something so it can be taught about. This is very useful when teaching about a topic that is difficult to otherwise see, for example, atomic structure , because atoms are far too small to be studied easily without expensive and difficult to use scientific equipment. The use of visual representations to transfer knowledge between at least two persons aims to improve

162-532: A 3D scalar field may be implemented using iso-surfaces for field distribution and textures for the gradient of the field. Examples of such visual formats are sketches , diagrams , images , objects, interactive visualizations, information visualization applications, and imaginary visualizations as in stories . While information visualization concentrates on the use of computer-supported tools to derive new insights, knowledge visualization focuses on transferring insights and creating new knowledge in groups . Beyond

216-495: A 3D model is formed from points called vertices that define the shape and form polygons . A polygon is an area formed from at least three vertices (a triangle). A polygon of n points is an n-gon. The overall integrity of the model and its suitability to use in animation depend on the structure of the polygons. Before rendering into an image, objects must be laid out in a 3D scene . This defines spatial relationships between objects, including location and size . Animation refers to

270-403: A digital construction of a real object directly from the scientific data. Scientific visualization is usually done with specialized software , though there are a few exceptions, noted below. Some of these specialized programs have been released as open source software, having very often its origins in universities, within an academic environment where sharing software tools and giving access to

324-407: A form that facilitates human interaction for exploration and understanding. Important aspects of information visualization are dynamics of visual representation and the interactivity. Strong techniques enable the user to modify the visualization in real-time, thus affording unparalleled perception of patterns and structural relations in the abstract data in question. Educational visualization is using

378-534: A human face and a hand that had originally appeared in the 1971 experimental short A Computer Animated Hand , created by University of Utah students Edwin Catmull and Fred Parke . 3-D computer graphics software began appearing for home computers in the late 1970s. The earliest known example is 3D Art Graphics , a set of 3-D computer graphics effects, written by Kazumasa Mitazawa and released in June 1978 for

432-418: A larger process of data analysis. Visual analytics has been defined as "the science of analytical reasoning supported by the interactive visual interface". Its focus is on human information discourse (interaction) within massive, dynamically changing information spaces. Visual analytics research concentrates on support for perceptual and cognitive operations that enable users to detect the expected and discover

486-406: A maximum of three GE12 boards, three DG4 boards, and twelve RM6 boards. An Onyx system with RealityEngine2 graphics was used by CBS News for a broadcast of real-time election results. The broadcast had 3D graphics that were generated live that had updated news feeds in real time. This required the video to be composited live in 3D for the viewers, which was done using an Onyx system. This is one of

540-402: A simulation while it is running in response to a visualization of its current progress. This is called computational steering . More frequently, the representation of the information is changed rather than the information itself. Experiments have shown that a delay of more than 20 ms between when input is provided and a visual representation is updated is noticeable by most people . Thus it

594-541: A thousand years. Examples from cartography include Ptolemy's Geographia (2nd century AD), a map of China (1137 AD), and Minard 's map (1861) of Napoleon 's invasion of Russia a century and a half ago. Most of the concepts learned in devising these images carry over in a straightforward manner to computer visualization. Edward Tufte has written three critically acclaimed books that explain many of these principles. Computer graphics has from its beginning been used to study scientific problems. However, in its early days

SECTION 10

#1732782880124

648-528: A visualization application is the field of computer graphics . The invention of computer graphics (and 3D computer graphics ) may be the most important development in visualization since the invention of central perspective in the Renaissance period. The development of animation also helped advance visualization. The use of visualization to present information is not a new phenomenon. It has been used in maps, scientific drawings, and data plots for over

702-453: A visualization to be considered interactive it must satisfy two criteria: One particular type of interactive visualization is virtual reality (VR), where the visual representation of information is presented using an immersive display device such as a stereo projector (see stereoscopy ). VR is also characterized by the use of a spatial metaphor, where some aspect of the information is represented in three dimensions so that humans can explore

756-426: Is a class of 3-D computer graphics software used to produce 3-D models. Individual programs of this class are called modeling applications or modelers. 3-D modeling starts by describing 3 display models : Drawing Points, Drawing Lines and Drawing triangles and other Polygonal patches. 3-D modelers allow users to create and alter models via their 3-D mesh . Users can add, subtract, stretch and otherwise change

810-407: Is a key part of product lifecycle management . Product visualization software typically provides high levels of photorealism so that a product can be viewed before it is actually manufactured. This supports functions ranging from design and styling to sales and marketing. Technical visualization is an important aspect of product development. Originally technical drawings were made by hand, but with

864-427: Is desirable for an interactive visualization to provide a rendering based on human input within this time frame. However, when large amounts of data must be processed to create a visualization, this becomes hard or even impossible with current technology. Thus the term "interactive visualization" is usually applied to systems that provide feedback to users within several seconds of input. The term interactive framerate

918-467: Is often used to measure how interactive a visualization is. Framerates measure the frequency with which an image (a frame) can be generated by a visualization system. A framerate of 50 frames per second (frame/s) is considered good while 0.1 frame/s would be considered poor. The use of framerates to characterize interactivity is slightly misleading however, since framerate is a measure of bandwidth while humans are more sensitive to latency . Specifically, it

972-614: Is possible to achieve a good framerate of 50 frame/s but if the images generated refer to changes to the visualization that a person made more than 1 second ago, it will not feel interactive to a person. The rapid response time required for interactive visualization is a difficult constraint to meet and there are several approaches that have been explored to provide people with rapid visual feedback based on their input. Some include Many conferences occur where interactive visualization academic papers are presented and published. 3D computer graphics 3-D computer graphics, contrary to what

1026-437: Is the use of interactive, sensory representations, typically visual, of abstract data to reinforce cognition , hypothesis building, and reasoning . Scientific visualization is the transformation, selection, or representation of data from simulations or experiments, with an implicit or explicit geometric structure, to allow the exploration, analysis, and understanding of the data. Scientific visualization focuses and emphasizes

1080-404: Is used when people are physically separated. Using several networked computers, the same visualization can be presented to each person simultaneously. The people then make annotations to the visualization as well as communicate via audio (i.e., telephone), video (i.e., a video-conference), or text (i.e., IRC ) messages. The Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System ( PHIGS ) was one of

1134-1076: Is usually performed using 3-D computer graphics software or a 3-D graphics API . Altering the scene into a suitable form for rendering also involves 3-D projection , which displays a three-dimensional image in two dimensions. Although 3-D modeling and CAD software may perform 3-D rendering as well (e.g., Autodesk 3ds Max or Blender ), exclusive 3-D rendering software also exists (e.g., OTOY's Octane Rendering Engine , Maxon's Redshift) 3-D computer graphics software produces computer-generated imagery (CGI) through 3-D modeling and 3-D rendering or produces 3-D models for analytical, scientific and industrial purposes. There are many varieties of files supporting 3-D graphics, for example, Wavefront .obj files and .x DirectX files. Each file type generally tends to have its own unique data structure. Each file format can be accessed through their respective applications, such as DirectX files, and Quake . Alternatively, files can be accessed through third-party standalone programs, or via manual decompilation. 3-D modeling software

SECTION 20

#1732782880124

1188-610: The Apple II . 3-D computer graphics production workflow falls into three basic phases: The model describes the process of forming the shape of an object. The two most common sources of 3D models are those that an artist or engineer originates on the computer with some kind of 3D modeling tool , and models scanned into a computer from real-world objects (Polygonal Modeling, Patch Modeling and NURBS Modeling are some popular tools used in 3D modeling). Models can also be produced procedurally or via physical simulation . Basically,

1242-556: The Nintendo 64 and, because the technology was so new, the Onyx was noted as the major factor for the impressively high price of US$ 100,000 – US$ 250,000 for such kits. The Onyx was succeeded by the Onyx2 in 1996 and was discontinued on March 31, 1999. The deskside variant can accept one CPU board, and the rackmount variant can take up to six CPU boards. Both models were launched with

1296-418: The unique information being represented or the way that the information is presented. When the information being presented is altered, the visualization is usually part of a feedback loop . For example, consider an aircraft avionics system where the pilot inputs roll, pitch, and yaw and the visualization system provides a rendering of the aircraft's new attitude. Another example would be a scientist who changes

1350-577: The IP19 CPU board with one, two, or four MIPS R4400 CPUs, initially with 100 and 150 MHz options and later increased to 200 and 250 MHz. Later, the IP21 CPU board was introduced, with one or two R8000 microprocessors at 75 or 90 MHz; machines with this board were referred to as POWER Onyx. Finally, SGI introduced the IP25 board with one, two, or four R10000 CPUs at 195 MHz. The Onyx

1404-422: The Onyx when introduced in 1996. As with RealityEngine2, two versions correspond to the form factors of the Onyx. The deskside version consists of a GE12 board, one or two RM6 boards (limited due to the amount of cooling the deskside system provides), and a DG4 board. The rack model increases the number of RM6 boards supported to four per pipe and allows up to three pipes to be installed resulting in an Onyx rack with

1458-417: The dawn of humanity. from history include cave paintings , Egyptian hieroglyphs , Greek geometry , and Leonardo da Vinci 's revolutionary methods of technical drawing for engineering purposes that actively involve scientific requirements. Visualization today has ever-expanding applications in science, education, engineering (e.g., product visualization), interactive multimedia , medicine , etc. Typical of

1512-499: The digital animations produced to present meteorological data during weather reports on television , though few can distinguish between those models of reality and the satellite photos that are also shown on such programs. TV also offers scientific visualizations when it shows computer drawn and animated reconstructions of road or airplane accidents. Some of the most popular examples of scientific visualizations are computer-generated images that show real spacecraft in action, out in

1566-465: The final form. Some graphic art software includes filters that can be applied to 2D vector graphics or 2D raster graphics on transparent layers. Visual artists may also copy or visualize 3D effects and manually render photo-realistic effects without the use of filters. Some video games use 2.5D graphics, involving restricted projections of three-dimensional environments, such as isometric graphics or virtual cameras with fixed angles , either as

1620-446: The first examples of a real-time 3D video compositing system used in a television broadcast. Visualization (graphics) Visualization (or visualisation (see spelling differences )), also known as Graphics Visualization, is any technique for creating images , diagrams , or animations to communicate a message. Visualization through visual imagery has been an effective way to communicate both abstract and concrete ideas since

1674-434: The first programmatic efforts at interactive visualization and provided an enumeration of the types of input humans provide. People can: All of these actions require a physical device. Input devices range from the common – keyboards , mice , graphics tablets , trackballs , and touchpads – to the esoteric – wired gloves , boom arms , and even omnidirectional treadmills . These input actions can be used to control both

SGI Onyx - Misplaced Pages Continue

1728-508: The information as if it were present (where instead it was remote), sized appropriately (where instead it was on a much smaller or larger scale than humans can sense directly), or had shape (where instead it might be completely abstract). Another type of interactive visualization is collaborative visualization, in which multiple people interact with the same computer visualization to communicate their ideas to each other or to explore information cooperatively. Frequently, collaborative visualization

1782-610: The lack of graphics power often limited its usefulness. The recent emphasis on visualization started in 1987 with the publication of Visualization in Scientific Computing, a special issue of Computer Graphics. Since then, there have been several conferences and workshops, co-sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society and ACM SIGGRAPH , devoted to the general topic, and special areas in the field, for example volume visualization. Most people are familiar with

1836-519: The mere transfer of facts , knowledge visualization aims to further transfer insights , experiences , attitudes , values , expectations , perspectives , opinions , and predictions by using various complementary visualizations. See also: picture dictionary , visual dictionary Product visualization involves visualization software technology for the viewing and manipulation of 3D models, technical drawing and other related documentation of manufactured components and large assemblies of products. It

1890-404: The mesh to their desire. Models can be viewed from a variety of angles, usually simultaneously. Models can be rotated and the view can be zoomed in and out. 3-D modelers can export their models to files , which can then be imported into other applications as long as the metadata are compatible. Many modelers allow importers and exporters to be plugged-in , so they can read and write data in

1944-539: The mid-level, or Autodesk Combustion , Digital Fusion , Shake at the high-end. Match moving software is commonly used to match live video with computer-generated video, keeping the two in sync as the camera moves. Use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production is called machinima . Not all computer graphics that appear 3D are based on a wireframe model . 2D computer graphics with 3D photorealistic effects are often achieved without wire-frame modeling and are sometimes indistinguishable in

1998-697: The more common. Data visualization is a related subcategory of visualization dealing with statistical graphics and geospatial data (as in thematic cartography ) that is abstracted in schematic form. Information visualization concentrates on the use of computer-supported tools to explore large amount of abstract data. The term "information visualization" was originally coined by the User Interface Research Group at Xerox PARC and included Jock Mackinlay . Practical application of information visualization in computer programs involves selecting, transforming , and representing abstract data in

2052-456: The name suggests, are most often displayed on two-dimensional displays. Unlike 3D film and similar techniques, the result is two-dimensional, without visual depth . More often, 3-D graphics are being displayed on 3-D displays , like in virtual reality systems. 3-D graphics stand in contrast to 2-D computer graphics which typically use completely different methods and formats for creation and rendering. 3-D computer graphics rely on many of

2106-402: The native formats of other applications. Most 3-D modelers contain a number of related features, such as ray tracers and other rendering alternatives and texture mapping facilities. Some also contain features that support or allow animation of models. Some may be able to generate full-motion video of a series of rendered scenes (i.e. animation ). Computer aided design software may employ

2160-499: The physical model can match the virtual model. William Fetter was credited with coining the term computer graphics in 1961 to describe his work at Boeing . An early example of interactive 3-D computer graphics was explored in 1963 by the Sketchpad program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory . One of the first displays of computer animation was Futureworld (1976), which included an animation of

2214-526: The production of 3D content, as large-scale 3D content production can be extremely costly and time-consuming. Visual communication is the communication of ideas through the visual display of information . Primarily associated with two dimensional images , it includes: alphanumerics , art , signs , and electronic resources. Recent research in the field has focused on web design and graphically oriented usability . Visual analytics focuses on human interaction with visualization systems as part of

SGI Onyx - Misplaced Pages Continue

2268-628: The render engine how to treat light when it hits the surface. Textures are used to give the material color using a color or albedo map, or give the surface features using a bump map or normal map . It can be also used to deform the model itself using a displacement map . Rendering converts a model into an image either by simulating light transport to get photo-realistic images, or by applying an art style as in non-photorealistic rendering . The two basic operations in realistic rendering are transport (how much light gets from one place to another) and scattering (how surfaces interact with light). This step

2322-546: The rendered image, a model's data is contained within a graphical data file. A 3-D model is a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional object; a model is not technically a graphic until it is displayed. A model can be displayed visually as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3-D rendering , or it can be used in non-graphical computer simulations and calculations. With 3-D printing , models are rendered into an actual 3-D physical representation of themselves, with some limitations as to how accurately

2376-539: The representation of higher order data using primarily graphics and animation techniques. It is a very important part of visualization and maybe the first one, as the visualization of experiments and phenomena is as old as science itself. Traditional areas of scientific visualization are flow visualization , medical visualization , astrophysical visualization , and chemical visualization . There are several different techniques to visualize scientific data, with isosurface reconstruction and direct volume rendering being

2430-403: The rise of advanced computer graphics the drawing board has been replaced by computer-aided design (CAD). CAD-drawings and models have several advantages over hand-made drawings such as the possibility of 3-D modeling, rapid prototyping , and simulation . 3D product visualization promises more interactive experiences for online shoppers, but also challenges retailers to overcome hurdles in

2484-400: The same algorithms as 2-D computer vector graphics in the wire-frame model and 2-D computer raster graphics in the final rendered display. In computer graphics software, 2-D applications may use 3-D techniques to achieve effects such as lighting , and similarly, 3-D may use some 2-D rendering techniques. The objects in 3-D computer graphics are often referred to as 3-D models . Unlike

2538-432: The same fundamental 3-D modeling techniques that 3-D modeling software use but their goal differs. They are used in computer-aided engineering , computer-aided manufacturing , Finite element analysis , product lifecycle management , 3D printing and computer-aided architectural design . After producing a video, studios then edit or composite the video using programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro at

2592-512: The single pipe of the deskside. The VTX graphics subsystem is a cost reduced version of the RealityEngine2, using the same hardware but in a feature reduced configuration that can not be upgraded. It consists of one GE10 board (6 Intel i860XP processors vs 12 in RE2), a single RM4 or RM5 board, and a DG2 board. InfiniteReality succeeded RealityEngine2 as the high-end graphics subsystem for

2646-505: The source code is common. There are also many proprietary software packages of scientific visualization tools. Models and frameworks for building visualizations include the data flow models popularized by systems such as AVS, IRIS Explorer, and VTK toolkit, and data state models in spreadsheet systems such as the Spreadsheet for Visualization and Spreadsheet for Images. As a subject in computer science , scientific visualization

2700-405: The temporal description of an object (i.e., how it moves and deforms over time. Popular methods include keyframing , inverse kinematics , and motion-capture ). These techniques are often used in combination. As with animation, physical simulation also specifies motion. Materials and textures are properties that the render engine uses to render the model. One can give the model materials to tell

2754-401: The transfer of knowledge by using computer and non-computer-based visualization methods complementarily. Thus properly designed visualization is an important part of not only data analysis but knowledge transfer process, too. Knowledge transfer may be significantly improved using hybrid designs as it enhances information density but may decrease clarity as well. For example, visualization of

SECTION 50

#1732782880124

2808-506: The unexpected in complex information spaces. Technologies resulting from visual analytics find their application in almost all fields, but are being driven by critical needs (and funding) in biology and national security. Interactive visualization or interactive visualisation is a branch of graphic visualization in computer science that involves studying how humans interact with computers to create graphic illustrations of information and how this process can be made more efficient. For

2862-636: The void far beyond Earth, or on other planets . Dynamic forms of visualization, such as educational animation or timelines , have the potential to enhance learning about systems that change over time. Apart from the distinction between interactive visualizations and animation, the most useful categorization is probably between abstract and model-based scientific visualizations. The abstract visualizations show completely conceptual constructs in 2D or 3D. These generated shapes are completely arbitrary. The model-based visualizations either place overlays of data on real or digitally constructed images of reality or make

2916-512: Was launched with the RealityEngine2 or VTX graphics subsystems, and InfiniteReality was introduced in 1995. The RealityEngine2 is the original high-end graphics subsystem for the Onyx and was found in two different versions: deskside and rack. The deskside model has one GE10 (Geometry Engine) board with 12 Intel i860XP processors, up to four RM4 or RM5 (Raster Manager) boards, and a DG2 (Display Generator) board. The rack model differs by supporting up to three RealityEngine2 pipes (display outputs) vs

#123876