IRIS Explorer Seminar

Overview

All quotations are from the IRIS Explorer User's Guide.

"Explorer is a system for creating powerful visualization maps, each of which comprises a series of small software tools, called modules. A map is a collection of modules that carries out a series of related operations on a dataset and produces a visual representation of the result."

"Explorer has three main components:

the Map Editor, which is a work area for creating and modifying maps.
the DataScribe^TM, which is a data conversion utility for moving data between Explorer and other data formats.
the Module Builder, which lets you create your own custom modules (described in the IRIS Explorer Module Writer's Guide)."

We will only be needing the Map Editor, though if you wish to import your own data at some point you might need to know about the DataScribe. (One of the difficult hurdles in learning to use software visualization tools with your own data is learning about the data format expected by the package.)

Some terminology:

Term	Meaning
Map Editor	Work area for creating and modifying maps.
Module Librarian	Lists maps and modules available for use.
Module	Performs an algorithmic function on the data passing through it.
Control Panel	Gives the user access to the module functions
Widgets	Dials, sliders, buttons, and text slots for changing parameters
Map	A collection of modules that carry out a series of related operations on a dataset
Image	A visual image shown in the DisplayImg module
Geometric Object	The form that volumetric data takes in the Render module

Next: Example Maps

Johnny Humphrey

humphrey@cc.gatech.edu