From SuperMe

High-resolution Data Visualization

Project by: Jessica David, University of Evansville
Advisor: Dr. Bruce Segee

Abstract

High-resolution data visualization is useful when wanting to look at data on a larger scale while maintaining finer details. While using a projector helps show information on a larger scale, the pixels are only enlarged and detail is lost due to the inflated pixel size. By using a grid of monitors, however, one gains a higher resolution and still maintain the details, as well as being able to display more information than a single monitor. My proposed research focus will be working on the monitor wall in the Innovation Center at the University of Maine, looking at more efficient ways of using VNC (Virtual Network Computing) to display the information on multiple screens as well as researching methods to access the monitors individually. The progress made in these techniques will be beneficial to the MLTI (Maine Learning Technology Initiative) program and implementing this same idea in a classroom with students' laptops.

Weekly Reports and Schedule

• Week 1 (May 26 - May 30)
  • REU Orientation, introduction to supercomputing
  • Our first week was spent learning about communication with the Super Computer, as well as participating in the MLTI 2008 Middle School Conference. For more information, go to the Workshop Reports page.
• Week 2 (June 2 - June 6)
  • Become familiarized with the wall and VNC, install Ubuntu 8.04 on display nodes
  • Week 2 Report
• Week 3 (June 9 - June 13)
  • Begin work on accessing specific regions on the large display, hack Tight VNC Code
  • Week 3 Report
• Week 4 (June 16 - June 20)
  • Finish region adjustments in Tight VNC, begin working on Java Applet
  • Week 4 Report
• Week 5 (June 23 - June 27)
• Week 6 (June 30 - July 4)
  • Week 6 Report
• Week 7 (July 7 - Junly 11)
• Week 8 (July 14 - July 18)
• Week 9 (July 21- July 25)
  • Week 9 Report - draft of paper
  • Research Report due 24 July
• Week 10 (July 28 - August 1)
  • Research Poster due 31 July
  • Final Research Symposium on 1 August

Related Links and Works

1. MLTI - Homepage for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative
2. The RFB Protocol
3. Display Wall-in-a-Box
4. Real VNC
5. Tight VNC