Home arrow Press Room arrow Virtalis working with MVC for stereoscopic Access Grids
Virtalis working with MVC for stereoscopic Access Grids
Written by Sarah Cockburn-Price   
Thursday, 23 June 2005
LONG time Virtalis user, the University of Manchester, is in the vanguard of Britain’s move to create a reliable, high quality “Access Grid”. This is seen as the next generation of video conferencing and the earliest adopters are universities and similar research organisations who are using it to share their data and thinking around the globe.


Michael Daw and his Collaborative Working Developments Team were last year given the distinction of operating the National Access Grid Support Centre. His colleague, Martin Turner, Head of the Manchester Visualization Centre, was awarded research funding last December to attempt to bring a 3D element into the images created and shown on the Access Grid. The enhanced sense of depth and the level of interaction provided by stereoscopic visualisation means that complex datasets can be analysed and understood more quickly and ideas communicated to a wider, possibly non-technical audience. The aim of the inventors of Access Grid (at the Futures Lab, Argonne National Laboratory) was to create a technology that could support productive meetings between remote participants that are as effective as face-to-face meetings. This can only happen if one is able to forget the technology and concentrate on the meeting itself. The first “node” in the UK was implemented at the University of Manchester in 2001 and there are now more than 60 throughout the UK. Apart from Manchester, several of these are Virtalis customers, with the most recent being the British Geological Survey, University College London and the University of East Anglia. Virtalis is renowned for its expertise in advanced visualisation and it is this element that presents one of the most exciting facets of the Access Grid. The CSAGE (Collaborative Stereoscopic Access Research Grid Environment) project being run by Martin Turner’s team is funded by JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee). Essentially, CSAGE is developing the software technology to use its Virtalis hardware to incorporate stereoscopic images within the Access Grid in real time. Martin commented: “Many disciplines like to get close to their data. I am thinking of chemists and earth sciences in particular. For them, being able to collaborate with far-flung colleagues whilst viewing stereoscopic images generated from their data could be immensely valuable. However, they might not want to stay in 3D all the time, so the ability to switch between 2D and 3D whilst maintaining a high level of quality is important. In future, perhaps more students will be able to learn from home.”

Virtalis has installed two visualisation systems at the University of Manchester. One is a supercomputer powered three-projector active stereo system with a 25’ curved screen display and the second is a three channel, interactive, passive stereo Virtual Reality system. Virtalis will be holding its second Visualisation Road Show at the Manchester Visualization Centre on 30th June. All are welcome to visit from both the academic and industrial worlds. Among the products on display will be Virtalis' own portable visualisation projection system, StereoWorks, and the Virtalis team will also be demonstrating immersive VR using a Head Mounted Display and tracking system. Visitors will be able to talk to University of Manchester staff about how they use visualisation. Other technology on display will include the FastSCAN Cobra laser scanning system for digital scanning and rapid prototyping, the Phantom Omni haptic device and the new Synthagram autostereo “glasses-free” screen.

The aim of the Road Show will be to highlight the flexibility, robustness and cost-effectiveness of these tools and techniques in terms of aiding research projects and experimentation, improving design, optimising R&D, accelerating product-to-market and enhancing understanding and communication.
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]

CLICK TO CONTACT US OR UK tel. +44(0)161 969 1155
Chester House 79 Dane Road Sale Cheshire M33 7BP UK tel. +44(0)161 969 1155 © all images 2005
website developed by Sangria Studios with Joomla