Providing a Scientific Theater at AAAS

AVL--along with technology partners JVC and Zaxel--presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)'s annual meeting its "Ultra High Resolution Stereo Visualization Theater."{C}The experimental 4K 3D stereo projection system showed AVL’s cinematic scientific visualizations at “greater than four times the resolution and clarity of the industry's latest full high definition projectors,” with special depth effects created through circular polarization stereoscopy (viewers have a full range of head movement, without "breaking" the 3D effect).

The theater was sponsored by NSF. The meeting was held February 13 - 15th, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. AVL now uses a modified version of this experimental, high-end projection system to give demonstrations to NCSA visitors--from school groups to college classes to visiting policy makers and educators to scientific experts. The system employs a 16-drive RAID array and a single Linux box that runs custom movie-playback software (developed by Stuart Levy) and achieves a rate of 30 frames per second.