3D stereo scientific & information visualization environments

NCSA Strategic Planning Presentation (April 20,2010)

Donna Cox, Robert Patterson, Alex Betts, Matt Hall, Stuart Levy, AJ Christensen, Dave Semeraro

NCSA’s 4K 3D Interactive and cinematic visualization environment

How long are you willing to wait for visual feedback?

Studies of Human Tolerance Thresholds:

Interactive frame rate minimum 15 frames per second

Software render times maximum 45 minutes per image

General trend, the amount of data exceeds and overwhelms interactive and display technologies that couple humans to visual analysis & interpretation

Requires software as well as hardware & network solutions

96% of user survey request personnel to support visualization

(2008 Oak Ridge Survey of 320 NSF PI’s)

NCSA Strategic Planning Presentation (April 20,2010)

Challenges:

Interactive and pre-processed visualization (both needed):

• Over 20 years of stored data & petabytes to be collected on daily basis….. Many visualizations will continue to be a post-process

Build visualization pre-processes into CI pipelines

• New methods of data pre-processing for interactive analysis sessionsAlternate and redundant data representations

Firmware level of detail

Pre-processing derivative data for interactive vis

Real-time data streams

Multiple source data

AMR & nested grid data: temporal + spatial interpolation

• For interactivity, leverage GPUs !!!! GPU cluster renders streamed over network to displays

NCSA Strategic Planning Presentation (April 20,2010)

• Advancements in both entertainment and science are driving graphics and visualization hardware

3D: Use of the stereo for scientific disciplines (chemistry, astrophysics)

GPU graphics and computational: digital special effects in movies

Spielberg: visualizing the future earth for the public

• Increasing rates of media distribution to public: Needs for scientific ‘immutable mobiles’ will continue over next 5-10 years (internet TV, portability of visual science)**

** “The links between different places in time and space are completely modified by this fantastic acceleration of immutable mobiles which circulate everywhere and in all directions”

Visualisation and Cognition: Drawing Things Together Bruno Latour

NCSA Strategic Planning Presentation (April 20,2010)

Trends in market place:

Trends in visualization 3D (stereo) displays in the commercial market place:

• Increasing commercial 3D movie theaters, 3D home entertainment

(IMAX 3D, Discovery 3D television, Sony, etc.)

Driving the commercial market and consumer hardware

Motivation to provide 3D experience to compete with internet content

• 3D Stereo and 4K digital formats (Red, JVC, Fujifilm/Nvidia)(media, projection, 4K 3D LCD panels etc.)

• Museums upgrading to digital: Public outreach and informal education

More demand in museums for 3D (10 x tickets)

public outreach and engagement venues

• Schools adoption of content display technologyPrice point lowered due to increased consumer

market

NCSA Strategic Planning Presentation (April 20,2010)

Communication and distribution of science through portable and packaged visualizations

Repurposing and repackaging visualizations for wider and targeted audiences

Millions through internet TV

HD stereo TV (coming)

Full-dome digital museums and planetaria

NCSA Strategic Planning Presentation (April 20,2010)

Opportunities leveraging HPC resources