Dview

Dview is a high level interpreted programming language, of over 500 commands, that is oriented towards realtime 3D graphics. Three dimensional models, realtime animation of those models, and the ways in which those animations are viewed are all specified using character string commands consisting of a Dview command keyword followed by its arguments. Additionally, all of the constructs offered by the TCL language can be utilized. This affords the ability to set variables and utilize them within Dview commands, it allows for Dview commands to be embedded in looping constructs, and it allows for Dview to return results from commands that query for information.

Dview has a complete interactive user interface development environment which includes a model builder, animation player, and general purpose GUI for realtime visualization or creation of sequenced animations.

Dview can automatically generate Iris (.rgb) and Gif (.gif) images, numerically sequenced image files for creation of MPEG, QuickTime and animated Gif movies, VRML models and VRML animations.

Dview was developed by Patti Koenig of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Patti recieved her Bachelors degree in Computer Science at UC Berkeley, Masters degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and her Doctorate in Computer Science at University of Southern California (USC).

      
MOVIE

VRML Global Surveyor

VRML Sojourner

Dview has been actively utilized at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) since 1991 for many missions including Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Cassini, and the new Space Interferometry Mission (SIM). It has demonstrated success in its longevity and ability to serve many missions with often very different visualization goals. The Dview language and its implementation however is not specific to spacecraft applications. Dview is mature in its development and has serious potential for widespread use in other science and application domains. Dview does not compete with other APIs such as VRML, OpenInventor, OpenGL and Java3D. Rather, it is a higher level 3D modeling protocol which is implemented on top of such API's as a fast front-end. Dview gives the user an option of specifying 3D modeling in a language that is at a high level which facilitates rapid prototyping of realtime animations. Dview will soon be available to the public domain for demonstration purposes and usage. More information on Dview can be found at the Dview Web site: http://dview.jpl.nasa.gov.