`Visualization '97 Tutorials'

VISUALIZATION '97 TUTORIALS
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

TUTORIAL 1
Sunday 9:30 - 6:30 (Crescent III)
Introduction to VRML

Instructor:
D. Nadeau

Level: Beginner

Course Description:
Participants in this tutorial will learn how to use VRML to author their own 3-D virtual environments on the World Wide Web. The course offers brief coverage of the JAVA3D standard. Participants will learn the syntax of VRML, typical usage patterns, ways of avoiding common mistakes, animation and scene design technique, and tricks for increasing performance and realism. This tutorial is intended for visualization programmers interested in developing 3-D applications or applets.

Who Should Attend:
This tutorial is intended for those persons interested in authoring their own 3D content on the Web using VRML.

TUTORIAL 2
Sunday 9:30 - 6:30 (Crescent VII)
Introduction to Visualization

Instructors:
G. Grinstein, M. Ward

Level: Beginner

Course Description:
This tutorial will cover history, the computer graphics background, and the system issues involved in interactive data visualization and data exploration. We will look at fundamental perceptual issues, discuss data representations, compare visualization systems, and examine different application domains. We will also present state-of-the-art exploration environments, including integrated database visualization systems, information visualizers, and highly interactive virtual exploration spaces.

Who Should Attend:
This course is aimed at attendees who would like to acquire or strengthen their fundamental background in basic visualization theory and systems and would like to improve their day-to-day visualization results (in research, development, and implementation).

TUTORIAL 3
Monday 8:30 - 5:30 (Phoenix A)
Overview to Visualization with AVS/Express

Instructors:
Members of the International AVS Centre (IAC) and the AVS Professional Services Team

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Course Description:
This one day tutorial will provide attendees with a high level overview of data visualization solutions with the Advanced Visual Systems AVS/Express product family. Attendees will be introduced to the fundamentals of data visualization with AVS/Express, a perspective on the range of possible solutions, and interesting tips and techniques.

Who Should Attend:
This tutorial is designed for anyone tasked with producing and developing visualization solutions, but not thoroughly familiar with the AVS/Express visualization environment.

TUTORIAL 4
Monday 8:30 - 5:30 (Phoenix C)
Volume Visualization: Principles and Practice

Instructors:
A. E. Kaufman (Organizer and Speaker), R. Avila, W. E. Lorensen, H. Pfister, L. Sobierajski, R. Yagel

Level: Intermediate

Course Description:
Volume visualization is a key technology for visualizing 3D sampled, simulated, and synthetic datasets. This tutorial provides an overview of the nomenclature, the technology, and the techniques, with an emphasis on algorithms, software tools and applications. The course covers different approaches in surface extraction, volume viewing, volume shading, volume synthesis, volumetric global illumination, commercially available software, and applications. Slides, videos, and live web demos will demonstrate state-of-the-art techniques.

Who Should Attend:
The tutorial is designed for scientists, engineers, computer graphicists, and graduate students who are new to the field of volume visualization or interested in expanding their knowledge in that field.

TUTORIAL 5
Monday 8:30 - 5:30 (Crescent B)
Wavelet and Numerical Methods for Visualization

Instructors:
R. Machiraju, N. Max, T. Möller, R. Moorhead

Level: Intermediate

Course Description:
The focus of this course is a survey of wavelet and numerical tools for the imaging and visualization process. We will introduce basic numerical concepts of interpolation and approximation theory. The application of this theory to volume rendering and image analysis is demonstrated by different current research results. We especially introduce signal processing analysis tools and wavelet techniques. We show their relationship to numerical anaylsis and its practical interpretation and use for the specification of image artifacts such as blurring and aliasing as well as efficient algorithms (multi-resolution analysis).

Who Should Attend:
This tutorial is designed for scientists, engineers, computer graphicists, and graduate students who are interested in learning more about the mathematical foundations of imaging and visualization algorithms. It would also be of interest to professionsals who would like to learn state-of-the-art techniques in image analysis and compression using multi-resolution techniques including wavelets. Some mathematical background and exposure to volume rendering is assumed.

TUTORIAL 6
Tuesday 8:30 - 12:30 (Phoenix C)
Perceptions for Visualization: From Design to Evaluation

Instructors:
H. Levkowitz, V. Interrante, H.P. Meinzer

Level: Intermediate

Course Description:
This tutorial will teach you the basics of human perception and how to utilize them in the complete process of visualization: from design to evaluation.

Who Should Attend:
Anyone engaged in the design, implementation, and evaluation of visulizations.

TUTORIAL 7
Tuesday 1:30 - 5:30 (Phoenix C)
Visualization Toolkits: Applications and Techniques

Instructors:
K.M. Martin, W.E. Lorensen, W.J. Schroeder

Level: Intermediate

Course Description:
In this tutorial we will discuss fundamental issues regarding the design, implementation and application of 3D graphics and visualization systems. We will describe and contrast some current systems such as Open Inventor, AVS/Express, Data Explorer and the Visualization Toolkit. We will examine in more detail the implementation of the Visualization Toolkit. This will be used to illustrate important design issues such as graphics portability, interpreted versus compiled languages, multiple versus single inheritance, data flow models, and user interaction methods. In the remainder of this tutorial we will focus on applying visualization techniques and toolkits to solve problems from a selection of application domains.

Who Should Attend:
This course is intended for users, developers, researchers and practitioners of 3D graphics and data visualization.

TUTORIAL 8
Tuesday 8:30-5:30 (Crescent B)
Interactive Visualization and Web Based Exploration

Instructors:
T.M. Rhyne, M.Botts, W. Hibbard, L. Treinish

Level: Intermediate

Course Description:
This tutorial will examine the convergence of visualization methods with the World Wide Web as well as the relationship between real-time interactivity and scientific information exploration. The application of visualization tools and interactive techniques to the examination and interpretation of scientific data sets will be discussed. Highly illustrative atmospheric, oceanographic and geographic examples will be demonstrated in real time. The process of developing effective visualization paradigms for supporting high speed networking, database management, heterogeneous computing platforms, user interface design, collaborative computing, science education and the implementation of animation techniques will be highlighted.

Who should attend:
Scientific researchers, educators, and computer graphics specialists interested in exploring particular issues associated with handling the visual display of scientific information and large scientific data sets. Experience with scientific visualization systems and terminology is helpful as well as understanding of graphics programming.