Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 23:10:07 GMT Server: NCSA/1.5 Content-type: text/html Last-modified: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 20:33:04 GMT Content-length: 1771
Data Explorer (DX) is a block diagram, point and click programming language designed for producing high quality images based on 3-D data. The data may represent objects (walls, stars) or fields (density, electric field). DX design tools include vector and scalar field rendering, human controls, and geometric operations (rotate, zoom), in addition to x and y plotting. There is direct programming support for producing custom MOTIF control panels. The Theory Center has added modules to make parametric surfaces, texture maps, bumpmaps, spotlights, and a variety of other graphically oriented functions.
Figure 1 shows the DX network that generated the Mandelbrot set displayed in figure 2. The block diagram program is built up of "modules" and "wires" connecting them. A module is a primitive program function that appears on the screen as a block with input and output tabs. Wires are dragged with the mouse from outputs to inputs. A group of modules can be hidden inside of another module to form a user "macro."
Figure 1: The DX network and user interface
Figure 2: The Mandelbrot Set generated by the DX network above
DX also provides the facility to animate the images it generates.
Return to Visualization at the Cornell Theory Center.