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The 3D-Multi-windows™ system resolves prevailing limitations in regards to navigation and interaction of very complex models and collections of related 3D objects. Next Dimension Imaging will integrate the system in its anatomical software products, which are based on high-volume anatomical models of highest quality and detail.
While 3D computer graphics technology is progressing rapidly and has achieved amazing image quality and rendering speed, its capability to deal with high-volume models with ever growing size and detail, is limited. CAD graphics software, which is historically driven by the document file paradigm, allows interaction with assemblies comprising up to 100 or 200 parts, commonly presented in a single window. Surprisingly, this limitation does not result from limited PC performance, but from a lack of methods for efficient exploration of assemblies with many hundred or thousands of parts. In this case, navigation and exploration of small, obscured or enclosed parts is inefficient.
In 3D-Multi-windows, components of the model can be quickly plugged together or removed as easy as in a set of building bricks. All components are represented by small menu-like view tiles, which can be attached or detached in order to configure a desired 3D-view. In conjunction with the feature for rapid saving and recalling views, 3D-Multi-windows can deliver comprehensive insights on complex structures and can provide instant access to scattered and enclosed components.
A demo program of the system containing a complete ISS model from NASA was shown. The program, which demonstrated an impressive loading speed and instant access to all ISS modules down to tiny structural details, will be available for download from the corporate website. The Auto Focus navigation method, known from products published earlier contributes to the intuitive handling of the model.
Founder and Managing Director Lothar Muench, who contributed to the development of leading MRI, CT and 4D Ultrasound products, said: "We consider and manage 3D model content as an entity, rather than seeing in it a collection of related mesh files. The spatial relationship between parts in different files is difficult to track."
And: "The multi-view surface of the system improves human interaction, just as tabbed web browsers deliver better human interfacing compared to single page browsers." Jokingly he added: "The ISS model with its 1 million polygons of regular geometric meshes was like fast food for our model base engine. More frequently, the engine processes organic surfaces given as 10 to 20 million polygons of human anatomy models."
Although multi-viewing and the underlying data access structures have been researched and developed by Next Dimension Imaging (nextd.com) five years ago, the new methods could not be implemented due to significantly lower computer performance and common flaws in the PC graphics environment at that time.
Massive models can be embedded in a 3D-Multi-windows viewer program and can be safely used in product training and product marketing. The model data is encrypted and protected against illegal usage. The technology could be used to quickly navigate to a detail of the engine in a large oil tanker model, or help to visually identify the right spare part in a service department interactively. The feature to show and explore an assembly in a popup window is particularly useful when presenting 3D content. The presenter can switch the context quickly, in order to explain the functional relationship between different components.
For the design process of high-volume model systems, a 3D-Multi-windows viewer is a very effective quality control tool. Quality control measures in large organic, industrial and architectural model systems, which might be composed of hundreds of model files, had reached its limits with presently existing software methods.
Product BoneLab II which is scheduled to be released next month is equipped with 3D-Multi-windows user interface and will have a particular focus on presenting human anatomy. Further information can be found at the corporate website.
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