michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu (Michelle Messenger) (01/09/90)
Archive-name: ape/how-to-get Original-posting-by: michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu (Michelle Messenger) Original-subject: Wanted: more info on apE 2.0 Archive-site: oscsuna.osc.edu [128.146.1.4] Archive-directory: pub/apE Reposted-by: emv@math.lsa.umich.edu (Edward Vielmetti) The following information is what we normally send out to people who have questions about the apE. If you would like additional information for your newsletter, please let me know. Thanks for your interest in the apE! --Michelle Messenger Project Coordinator Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project 1224 Kinnear Road Columbus, Ohio 43212 614-292-3274 michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu ******************************************************************************** Facts About the apE Release: Here are some details about the availability of the apE software: What is It? The apE is a software toolkit for visualizing scientific data. It is designed to provide the flexibility to examine data in several ways. Release 1.1 of the apE is designed primarily for visualizing data in two graphical dimensions. (this does not mean just for visualizing two-dimensional data). The apE system places an emphasis on animation and the integration of the visualization process into the scientific process. The apE is extendable, and will grow with the addition of more tools and filters. The apE is a software product resulting from leading research in computer graphics and scientific visualization conducted by The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. The apE 2.0, available in winter 1990, will address general visualization problems in both two and three dimensions. What Computers is it For? The software package is designed so that there are two types of programs: interactive tools, and computational filters. The tools allow for interactive manipulation and examination of data. The filters perform all the computations. The filters are usable without the tools, although the user may need to provide some programming support to create data flows and view rendered images. The complete apE toolkit, including the tools (running under SunView), filters, and documentation, is available for the following workstations: - Sun series 4 workstations. - Sun series 3 workstations, running SunOS version 4.0 or greater. - Sun series 386i workstations. How Do I Get it? The apE is available via anonymous ftp from oscsuna.osc.edu (128.146.1.4) in the directory pub/apE. Send electronic mail to michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu, for more information. What Does the Release Include? - Executable versions of all the programs (tools and filters) for Sun-4, Sun-3, and Sun 386i. - Complete user documentation for each program. - Examples and tutorial. Source code for the apE version 1.1 is not available; however, future releases will include source code at a nominal fee (<$100). apE Version 2.0 The apE 2.0 represents a significant release of graphics software and tools to the research community. Built upon the experience of staff members from the Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Projects and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design, the apE 2.0 includes software that addresses the full range of applications, from science to art. The apE 2.0 is projected for release in January, 1990, and will be available in binary form via anonymous ftp much like the apE 1.1. However, full source code and printed documentation (both user and programmer) will be available as well for a nominal fee. The apE 2.0 will include libraries, filters, tools, and applications. In addition, a much larger range of equipment, including HP, DEC, SGI, and others, will be supported under the X Window system. The apE 2.0 will include basis libraries, libraries for manipulating data flow structures, and higher level libraries for window system objects (browsers, etc.). In addition to the two dimensional tools for scientific data included in the 1.1 release, the apE 2.0 will also include a complete polygonal system, with data generation, animation, and rendering; several mapping systems from scientific data to surface data; a volumetric rendering system; full image manipulation and post processing software; a primitive based rendering system (sticks, ball, vectors, etc.), ray tracing software, and a full toolset for scientific and artistic image creation and manipulation.