Yet another can easily work with linked data sets. For example, an image of a uniform surface might be acquired as its electrochemical potential is scanned. Above images demonstrate the 'trace' function in IDL using an amyloid beta protein fiber image. When choosing IDL , Dr. Lindsay and his colleagues considered all available image analysis software packages. Ultimately, it was IDL's superior user programmability that convinced us to select it.
Users now have a friendly interface so they can write their own procedures.
The Visual SPM application incorporates most features unique to SPM, such as flattening, line replacement, and surface roughness. It also has a few polymer image analysis features not found anywhere else. In order to perform data analysis with Visual SPM, data is acquired by a computer that monitors the control signal needed to keep a probe a constant height above a surface. The same computer may also acquire other signals, such as the conductivity at each point. The data appear as images, usually a map of height vs. position in the xy plane.