One of TLC²'s unique resources is the visualization laboratory. Researchers throughout campus and the greater Houston research community come to this facility to see their data come alive.

Visualization Theater

TLC² has recently upgraded the visualization facility. The upgraded facility is a visualization theater with 30 seats.

Two 8 Mpixel Sony projectors for stereographic projection are driven by an 83 GF 16GB Linux visualization cluster with eight nVidia Quadro fx4500 graphics processors.

More information and photos from the projection room.

Visualization for larger audiences

The cluster can also drive projectors in TLC²’s two classrooms, PGH 200 (48 seats) and PGH 232 (126 seats), and TLC²’s conference room PGH 218.

Remote visualization

TLC² is also planning to make available at least five setups for remote visualization. Each remote setup will have a 9Mpixel 22” display and either a 42” or a 50” plasma display, a dual processor 10 GF, 2GB Opteron graphics workstation with nVidia Quadro fx3400 graphics processor and a network switch with 48 GigE ports and a 10 Gbps uplink to TLC² computational resources for rendering, and shared storage resources. The plan is to establish a dedicated on-campus network for remote/distributed visualization in the same spirit as for the Distributed Storage Network.

SGI Onyx 3400 The SGI Onyx 3400 computing platform is a leading graphics and visualization system. It features InfiniteReality 3 graphics, true multidimensional scalability, and binary compatibility with SGI 2000 series. The SGI Onyx 3400 runs the IRIX Operating System. It has 16 R-14000 processors operating at 500 MHz, each with 8 MB cache, interconnected with two 6-port routers and two M NUMALINKS. It is configured with 8 GB main memory and 10 256 MB Raster Memory modules, four C-Bricks, three I-Bricks, one X-Brick and two Inifinte Reality Bricks. Other features include: Four IR3 Pipelines. Four XIO adapters, one Digital Video In/Out adapter. Six 33/32 PCI ports, and nine 66/64 PCI ports. Six 18 GB Fiber Channel discs (two for each I-Brick). Partitioned system and cluster management through an SGE IRIS console.

ImmersaDesk R2 The ImmersaDesk R2 is a 4' X 5' movable screen with stereoscopic visualization capabilities. The vertical position gives the viewer a "through the window" experience, while the angled format gives the user an immersive, "birds-eye" view. Screen: 82.5" (209 cm) diagonal, 89 to 43 degree variable angle configurations, 11" (28 cm) vertical screen height adjustment. Resolution: 1280 X 1024 (typical), 1350 X 1100 (ANSI pixels). Frequency range and response: 15 to 152 kHz horizontal/39.5 to 185 Hz vertical, 120 MHz bandwidth (-3 dB) accommodating 4 nS pixels and digital clock rates over 250 MHz. Stereoscopic eyewear: five pairs of active shuttered glasses with emitters and cabling. Peripherals: 6 DOF WorkWand™ tracked input device with 2DOF joystick capability and three programmable buttons, tracking: Ascension SpacePad. Fakespace Pinch ™ Gloves, a gesture recognition system for model interaction and manipulation. General features: software drivers compatible with CAVE™Lib API; 19" built-in equipment rack for audio or other components; RGB HV, RGBS (standard inputs), 15 pin HD from tracking PC.

SGI Reality Center 3300W The SGI Reality Center 3300W is a high-resolution wall designed specifically for group visualization. A multi-channel, freestanding display provides excellent sight lines for standing and seated audiences, and the rear functioning high-performance graphics projector (BARCOGRAPHICS 808s) prevents cast shadows and distortion on the high-quality hard screen. Active stereo, video switching, loudspeakers. Three channel stereo screen, size 12.6' X 2.39' VHS video up to 1600 X 1200 @ 60Hz per channel Horizontal auto-lock scan frequency range of 15-110 KHz Horizontal retrace of 2.7 sec Vertical auto-lock scan frequency of 37-200 Hz RGB bandwidth of 120 MHz [-3 dB] Multilanguage on-screen menus