But that's all. Another difficulty with other visualisation software is that they may not be able to simulate the volume that goes with looking at 350 million light years of data. Accuracy is, of course, an extremely important element in scientific and engineering studies such as these. IRIS Explorer includes modules built on sophisticated algorithms from NAG numerical libraries, known for accuracy and reliability. The use of these libraries can save a developer time and effort in implementing fundamental algorithms and allows concentration on other aspects of the visualisation process.
Users can be confident that all modules have been used in a very wide range of other applications.
In addition, the libraries provide ready-made reference for documentation purposes, key to assessing the accuracy and applicability of the module. There is a whole zoo of visualisation packages out there, and I have tried many of them, from the very popular to the less well known. The decisive factors for us were the affordability of IRIS Explorer, and its ease of use. It is powerful yet basic, not dedicated to any particular type of research. The Center for Astrophysics team disseminates its information widely.