8344660
Top Scientific Visualization Research Problems
Scientific visualization as currently understood and practiced is still a relatively new discipline. As a result, we visualization researches are not necessarily accustomed to undertaking the sorts of self-examinations that other scientists routinely undergo in relation to their work. Yet if we are to creat a disciplinary culture focused on matters of real scientific importance and committed to real progress, it is essential that we ask ourselves hard questions on an ongoing basis. What are the most important research issues facing us? What underlying assumptions needs to be challenged and perhaps abandoned? What practices need to be reviewed? In this article, I attempt to start a discussion of these issues by proposing a list of top research problems and issues in scientific visualization.
15670
Display of vector fields using a reaction-diffusion model
Effective visualization of vector fields relies on the ability to control the size and density of the underlying mapping to visual cues used to represent the field. In this paper we introduce the use of a reaction-diffusion model, already well known for its ability to form irregular spatio-temporal patters, to control the size, density, and placement of the vector field representation. We demonstrate that it is possible to encode vector field information (orientation and magnitude) into the parameters governing a reaction-diffusion model to form a spot pattern with the correct orientation, size, and density, creating an effective visualization. To encode direction we texture the spots using a light to dark fading texture. We also show that it is possible to use the reaction-diffusion model to visualize an additional scalar value, such as the uncertainty in the orientation of the vector field. An additional benefit of the reaction-diffusion visualization technique arises from its automatic density distribution. This benefit suggests using the technique to augment other vector visualization techniques. We demonstrate this utility by augmenting a LIC visualization with a reaction-diffusion visualization. Finally, the reaction-diffusion visualization method provides a technique that can be used for streamline and glyph placement.
5469350
Biomedical computing and visualization
Computers have changed the way we live, work, and even recreate. Now, they are transforming how we think about and treat human disease. In particular, advanced techniques in biomedical computing, imaging, and visualization are changing the face of biology and medicine in both research and clinical practice. The goals of biomedical computing, imaging and visualization are multifaceted. While some images and visualizations facilitate diagnosis, others help physicians plan surgery. Biomedical simulations can help to acquire a better understanding of human physiology. Still other biomedical computing and visualization techniques are used for medical training. Within biomedical research, new computational technologies allow us to "see" into and understand our bodies with unprecedented depth and detail. As a result of these advances, biomedical computing and visualization will help produce exciting new biomedical scientific discoveries and clinical treatments. In this paper, we give an overview of the computational science pipeline for an application in neuroscience and present associated research results in medical imaging, modeling, simulation, and visualization [1].
21779382
Computational Engineering and Science Program at the University of Utah
We describe a new graduate program at the Univesity of Utah that we consider a first step towards the modernization of the University's curriculum in what we call "Computational Engineering and Science" (CES). Our goal is to provide a mechanism by which a graduate student can obtain integrated expertise and skills in all areas that are required for the solution of a particular computational problem.
31563337
The trees for which maximum multiplicity implies the simplicity of other eigenvalues
Among those real symmetric matrices whose graph is a given tree T, the maximum multiplicity is known to be the path cover number of T. An explicit characterization is given for those trees for which whenever the maximum multiplicity is attained, all other multiplicities are 1.
30236643
Towards a Prehistory of Evolutionary and Adaptive Computation in Music
A number of systems have been created which apply genetic algorithms, cellular automata, artificial life, agents, and other evolutionary and adaptive computation ideas in the creation of music. The aim of this paper is to examine the context in which such systems arose by looking for features of experimental music which prefigure the ideas used in such systems. A number of ideas are explored: the use of randomness in music, the view of compositions as parameterized systems, the idea of emergent structure in music and the idea of musicians performing the role of reactive agents.
10158972
On the Problems of Validating DesktopVR
For the last twenty years, human-computer interfaces have been dominated by two-dimensional interaction techniques. Things are changing. Techniques that were previously restricted to specialized CAD/CAM tools and immersive VR systems are now being extended to the mass market. The photo-realistic facilities offered by QuicktimeVR and the model based renderings of VRML (Virtual Reality Mark-up Language) provide sophisticated tools for interface design. As a result, three dimensional visualization techniques are being widely exploited in the financial services industry, airports and even off-shore oil production. In January 1997, there were some 2,000 VRML models on the web. By January 1998, this number had grown to over 20,000. Research in human-computer interaction has, however, lagged behind these developments. Few guidelines can be applied to support the design of desktopVR. This paper, therefore, describes three criteria that can be applied to assess the usability of these interfaces. We then go on to validate these criteria against a number of case studies. Unfortunately, it is concluded that standard measures of task performance, successful navigation and subjective satisfaction cannot easily be applied to assess the utility of 3D systems.
5064563
Using "Accident Fault Trees" in Conjunction With Traditional Accident Reports
Accident reports help to ensure that operator ‘error’ and system ’failure’ do not threaten other applications. Unfortunately, a number of usability problems limit the effectiveness of these documents. Each section is, typically, drafted by a different expert; forensic scientists follow metallurgists, human factors experts follow meteorologists. In consequence, it can be difficult for readers to form a coherent account of an accident. This paper argues that fault trees can be used to present a clear and concise overview of major failures. Unfortunately, fault trees have a number of limitations. For instance, they do not represent time. This is significant because temporal properties have a profound impact upon the course of human-machine interaction. Similarly, they do not represent the criticality or severity of a failure. We have, therefore, extended the fault tree notation to represent human-machine interaction during major failures. The resulting Accident Fault Tree diagrams can be used in conjunction with an official accident report to better visualise the course of an accident. The Clapham Junction railway disaster (Department of Transport, 1989) is used to illustrate our argument.
2382274
Synthesising Timbres and Timbre-Changes from Adjectives/Adverbs
Synthesising timbres and changes to timbres from natural language descriptions is an interesting challenge for computer music. This paper describes the current state of an ongoing project which takes a machine learning approach to this problem. We discuss the challenges that are presented by this, discuss various strategies for tackling this problem, and explain some experimental work. In particular our approach is focused on the creation of a system that uses an analysis-synthesis cycle to learn and then produce such timbre changes.