New graphics standard challenges stalwart

Article Abstract:

Silicon Graphics Inc (SGI) is licensing its Iris Graphics Library (IGL) program development software to establish it as a standard for high-performance, portable 3D graphics. The Programmers' Hierarchical Graphics Standard (PHIGS) has been a popular standard for five years, but it does not provide adequate performance for graphics calls, particularly in the generation of images of complex phenomena not suited for hierarchical representation. Consequently, vendors of high-performance graphics hardware are writing their own, proprietary libraries of graphics calls appropriate to such graphics. SGI hopes to utilize its position as the leading vendor of highest-performance graphics workstations to establish IGL as an industry standard. The firm, plus Compaq Computer, Digital Equipment Corp and Intel, formed a board to prepare a new 5.0 draft of IGL that will be less machine-specific. Both IGL and PHIGS proponents are incorporating the best features of the competing standard. A major difference is that IGL features immediate-mode graphics, while PHIGS employs retained-mode graphics.

Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Computer integrated systems design, Standards, Planning, Standard, Standardization, Application development software, Silicon Graphics Inc., Three dimensional graphics, Interoperability, Compatibility, Competition, Three-Dimensional Graphics, Performance, SGIC, Iris Graphics Library (Program development software)

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Fractals: not just another pretty picture

Article Abstract:

Applications of fractals research include graphics data compression and strategic military models. Fractals are a class of geometry characterized by the ability of a small portion of a figure to resemble some larger part exactly or very closely. A system of graphic data compression developed by Michael F. Barnsley and others at Georgia Institute of Technology achieves compression ratios greater than 1,000 to 1 using fractal theory. Barnsley's company, Iterated Systems Inc., claims to achieve ratios of 10,000 to 1, of possible use in photoreconnaissance data storage. Iterated systems plans to introduce software in Oct 1988 capable of 5-to-1 to 50-to-1 ratios for the Sun 3-60 workstation. Col Gary Q Coe, working in the Pentagon, is using fractals to develop military models of battlefield command and control.

Commercial physical research, Noncommercial research organizations, Research, Product development, Industrial research, Image processing, Data compression, Fractals, Georgia Institute of Technology, Modeling, Data modeling software, Research and Development, Iteration, technical, Iterated Systems Inc.

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Louis Liebenberg: call of the wild

Article Abstract:

Louis Liebenberg is the owner of CyberTracker Software Ltd., a four person company in Cape Town, South Africa. CyberTracker's acclaimed program for Palm and Pocket PC handhelds is used for animal tracking and conservation. Several features of CyberTracker are discussed.

United States, Management dynamics, Executive changes & profiles, Management, Officials and employees, Computer software industry, Software industry, Company business management, Liebenberg, Louis

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