From: rasure@borris.eece.unm.edu (John Rasure)
Newsgroups: comp.soft-sys.khoros
Subject: New Viz Book
Date: 31 Jul 92 17:57:23 GMT



>From Rae Earnshaw
R.A.Earnshaw@uk.ac.leeds
_________________________________________________________________________

 Subject: Introductory Guide to Scientific Visualization
          Summary of the book

 AN INTRODUCTORY GUIDE TO SCIENTIFIC VISUALIZATION
 by R. A. Earnshaw (University of Leeds)
 and N. Wiseman (Natural Environment Research Council)
 Springer-Verlag, 157 pp, to be published July 1992

 SUMMARY
 Scientific visualization is concerned with exploring data and
 information in such a way as to gain understanding and insight
 into the data.  This is a fundamental objective of much scientific
 investigation.  To achieve this goal, scientific visualization
 utilises aspects in the areas of computer graphics, user-interface
 methodology, image processing, system design, and signal processing.

 This volume is intended for readers new to the field
 and who require a quick and easy-to-read summary of what
 scientific visualization is and what it can do.  Written in
 a popular and journalistic style with many illustrations it
 will enable readers to appreciate the benefits of scientific
 visualization and how current tools can be exploited in many
 application areas.  This volume is indispensable for scientists
 and research workers who have never used computer graphics or
 other visual tools before, and who wish to find out the benefits
 and advantages of the new approaches.

 This guide is concerned to answer the following questions -

    o What is Scientific Visualization?

    o What can it do?

    o What do the technical terms and jargon really mean?

    o What products are currently available?

    o What kind of hardware do I need?

    o What are the costs?

    o What do I get?

    o Where do I go next to find out more, or explore current
        possibilities?

    o What are the prospects for the future?

 A companion volume "Scientific Visualization - Techniques and
 Applications" Eds K. W. Brodlie, L. A. Carpenter, R. A. Earnshaw,
 J. R. Gallop, R. J. Hubbold, A. M. Mumford, C. D. Osland, P. Quarendon
 is also published by Springer-Verlag and
 provides a comprehensive reference work for the visualization
 specialist.  It contains sections on framework, visualization
 techniques, data facilities, human computer interface, applications,
 products, glossary of terms, bibliography, and enabling technologies.
_________________________________________________________________________

 Subject: Scientific Visualization - Techniques and Applications
          Summary of the book


 SCIENTIFIC VISUALIZATION - TECHNIQUES AND APPLICATIONS
 Eds K. W. Brodlie, L. A. Carpenter, R. A. Earnshaw, J. R. Gallop,
     R. J. Hubbold, A. M. Mumford, C. D. Osland, P. Quarendon
 Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Jan 1992
     53 Figures, 5 Tables, pp 284
 ISBN 3-540-54565-4, ISBN 0-387-54565-4

 SUMMARY
 This volume represents a full consideration of the subject of
 scientific visualization and is intended to be a reference guide
 for the community on the technical aspects of the subject.  The topics
 covered include -

    o Framework
    o Visualization Techniques
    o Data Facilities
    o Human Computer Interface
    o Applications
    o Products
    o Glossary of Terms
    o Bibliography
    o Enabling Technologies

 An Introduction gives an overview of the current field, and a final
 chapter summarises the Conclusions of the present work.

 Scientific visualization is concerned with exploring data and
 information in such a way as to gain understanding and insight
 into the data.  This is a fundamental objective of much scientific
 investigation.  To achieve this goal, scientific visualization
 utilises aspects in the areas of computer graphics, user-interface
 methodology, image processing, system design, and signal processing.

 The volumes of data that are currently being produced can be very
 large, and are often time-varying and multi-dimensional.  Scientific
 visualization provides the tools and techniques to extract
 significant features and results quickly and easily.  Without
 these tools much of today's data that is collected will never be
 analysed and never yield any useful information.

 This book provides comprehensive information on scientific
 visualization and is international in its scope.  The material is
 suitable for visualization tool makers and those invoved in
 designing the next generation of systems.  The range of applications
 included provides users and developers with valuable information on
 the current potential of scientific visualization systems.

 There are many points of current debate and development in the area
 of scientific visualization.  This volume sets out material on many
 of these.  Current issues discussed include framework models,
 classification of techniques for representing abstract objects,
 multiplicity of data formats and standardization, styles of interaction
 and dialogues required, choice of visualization system, and hardware
 needed, are all discussed in detail and proposals are made for
 further work and development.

 A companion volume "An Introductory Guide to Scientific Visualization"
 by R. A. Earnshaw and N. Wiseman, is also published by
 Springer-Verlag, and is intended for readers new to the field
 and who require a quick and easy-to-read summary of what
 scientific visualization is and what it can do.  Written in
 a popular and journalistic style with many illustrations it
 will enable readers to appreciate the benefits of scientific
 visualization and how current tools can be exploited in many
 application areas.  This volume is indispensable for scientists
 and research workers who have never used computer graphics or
 other visual tools before, and who wish to find out the benefits
 and advantages of the new approaches.