ARCHIVED: Visualization and Collaborative Theater at Indiana University

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On this page:

System overview
System access
Computing environment
Development and running applications
Support

System overview

The Visualization and Collaborative Theater (VCT) is a UITS Advanced Visualization Lab (AVL) system located on the Indiana University Bloomington campus in IC 105. The VCT is a three-screen, front-projected display offering either stereoscopic and monoscopic high-definition visualization and presentation capabilities for up to 60 people.

System configuration
Machine type	Dell workstation
Operating system	Windows 7 x64, Fedora Linux x64
Memory model	Local
Processor cores	12
CPUs	2
Nodes	1
RAM	24 GB
Network	1 Gbps
Local storage	1 TB
Storage information
File systems	NTFS
Total disk space	1 TB
Total scratch space	500 GB
Availability scope	With help from AVL staff, available to all IU faculty, staff, and students
Quotas	None; per visualization project
Backup and purge policies	None; recommend UITS storage services
Visualization systems information
Display or acquisition device	Display
For display devices:
Type of display device	3-screen, active stereoscopic 3D display
Display technology	700 Lumen DLP projectors
Resolution	19200 x 1200 per screen, 5760 x 1200 total
Interface mechanism	Keyboard, mouse, SMART Track user tracking with Logitech game controller

System access

Access to all visualization systems is physical (i.e., you must be in the room with the device to use it). At this time, no remote access or virtual desktop support is available. To request physical access to visualization devices, email the AVL. An AVL staff member will be assigned to you; that person will meet with you to discuss your project and proposed usage scenario. Once your use is approved, your assigned AVL staff member will provide an orientation and proper training to get you started using the system. Most visualization systems have 24/7 access via keycards. Calendaring and scheduling options will be discussed during your orientation.

Computing environment

All visualization systems are on the IU ADS domain, so you authenticate using your IU Network ID. This means your desktop is your own environment. By default, you will not receive administrative privileges. If you feel you need administrative privileges, you should discuss it with your AVL contact.

Development and running applications

The AVL provides a variety of APIs and software frameworks appropriate for a wide variety of visualization-related tasks. No one solution will work for every situation. During your orientation you can discuss your specific visualization needs with your AVL contact, who can direct you to the most appropriate software and, if needed, help you download and install new or custom software.

Working with data

All visualization systems have local storage areas, but they are not backed up and are purged regularly. Before each working session, you must import all data and program files from a long-term storage medium, and transfer them back to long-term storage when you're finished. All visualization systems have USB support and are connected to the IU network, so you can use long-term storage media, such as USB (flash or magnetic) drives, and network-enabled storage services, such as the IU Scholarly Data Archive (SDA).

Support

Direct all questions to your assigned AVL contact, or email the AVL.