Visualization dot com

The author explores the seemingly well worn subject of distance based or remote visualization. Current practices in remote visualization tend to clump into two broad categories. One approach, called render-remote, is to render an image remotely, then transmit the image to the user. Another option, render-local, transfers raw data to the user, where it is then rendered on the local workstation. With advances in networking and graphics technology, we can explore a class of approaches from a new, third category. With this third category, which we call shared or "dot com" visualization, we stand to reap the best of both worlds: minimized data transfers and workstation-accelerated rendering. The article describes Visapult, a prototype system currently under development at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that strikes such a balance, achieving a blended, scalable visualization tool. Dot com visualization means that remote and local resources collaborate and negotiate, combining capabilities to produce a final product.