RE: GIS

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Spann, Joseph R (Joseph.Spann++at++marconi-is.com)
Fri, 3 Sep 1999 13:26:28 -0700

Well it's still not clear to me. You've explained what Performer
does and the complexity and why it's hard etc. But I've yet to
glean any understanding of what specific hardware feature must exist
to accomplish all this. Sorry but saying you can only do it on
IR is not enough. What "Hardware" is missing from an Octane or an O2
that prevents clip-mapping. Is it a systems thing or is there some mystical
clip-mapping asic?

I don't know if you've heard but the Developers Program has
been chopped to shreds. I'm mad as hell and surprised no one
has screamed on info-performer yet. As if you guys don't have
enough to worry about now they've deliberately begun to alienate
the developers!

-----Original Message-----
From: Angus Dorbie [mailto:dorbie++at++sgi.com]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 1999 12:15 PM
To: Spann, Joseph R
Subject: Re: GIS

I have already done this but thanks for the advice.

Cheers,Angus.

"Spann, Joseph R" wrote:
>
> Perhaps we can put an end to this thread if someone
> can clearly explain why "CLIP mapping requires special hardware."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Angus Dorbie [mailto:dorbie++at++sgi.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 5:45 PM
> To: Fernando Mato Mira
> Cc: info-performer++at++sgi.com
> Subject: Re: GIS
>
> CLIP mapping requires special hardware.
>
> There is no scheme which can solve this in a similar way without
> mandating lot's of things about the geometry description you use, or
> incurring big overheads with clip planes e.t.c. That part is just not
> there right now, and it almost defeats the purpose of CLIP mapping in
> the first place.
>
> In short you will have to solve your problem some other way until CLIP
> mapping hardware is available (or pay a price for supporting that paging
> model)..
>
> This can be done using Performer, but the tools may be lower level than
> you need, stuff like the LADBMS helps a lot with paging issues and
> coordinate management etc. Double precision DCS' are being added to
> Performer. That just leaves paging and that is in there and fairly easy
> to use but load ballancing texture downloads to GFX could do with some
> improvement.
>
> Cheers,ANgus.
>
> Fernando Mato Mira wrote:
> >
> > At 01:25 PM 9/1/99 -0700, you wrote:
> >
> > >Nobody here has said SGI is not interested in Intrinsic's technology,
> > >they do very interesting stuff.
> > >
> > >Amazing how these rumors get started.
> >
> > Well, it was some conjecture heard elsewhere (hence `allegedly'). And it
> > seemed to refer to some kind of licensing/reuse/adaptation interest.
> >
> > But the point is, can we expect ClipTexture support for Linux? If so,
> when?
> > Otherwise I'll have to look at (and learn) OpenGVS. Performer+Vega+LADM,
> > too, but this option would be severely handicapped as cost-effectiveness
> go
> > (not to mention the fact that OpenGVS supports also Win32 and TruUnix).
> >
> > Thanks and regards,
> >
> > Fernando D. Mato Mira
> > Real-Time SW Eng & Networking
> > Advanced Systems Engineering Division
> > CSEM
> > Jaquet-Droz 1 email: matomira AT acm DOT org
> > CH-2007 Neuchatel tel: +41 (32) 720-5157
> > Switzerland FAX: +41 (32) 720-5720
> >
> > www.csem.ch www.vrai.com
> > <http://ligwww.epfl.ch/matomira.html>ligwww.epfl.ch/matomira.html
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > List Archives, FAQ, FTP: http://www.sgi.com/software/performer/
> > Submissions: info-performer++at++sgi.com
> > Admin. requests: info-performer-request++at++sgi.com
>
> --
> "One of the best-known folk theorems of software engineering is that
> 60% to 75% of conventional software projects are either never
> completed or rejected by their intended users. If that range is
> anywhere near true (and I've never met a manager of any experience
> who disputes it) then more projects than not are being aimed at goals
> which are either (a) not realistically attainable, or (b) just plain
> wrong."
> Eric S. Raymond - The Cathedral and The Bazaar
>
> For advanced 3D graphics Performer + OpenGL based examples and tutors:
> http://www.dorbie.com/
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> List Archives, FAQ, FTP: http://www.sgi.com/software/performer/
> Submissions: info-performer++at++sgi.com
> Admin. requests: info-performer-request++at++sgi.com

-- 
"One of the best-known folk theorems of software engineering is that
60% to 75% of conventional software projects are either never
completed or rejected by their intended users. If that range is
anywhere near true (and I've never met a manager of any experience
who disputes it) then more projects than not are being aimed at goals
which are either (a) not realistically attainable, or (b) just plain
wrong."
                 Eric S. Raymond - The Cathedral and The Bazaar


For advanced 3D graphics Performer + OpenGL based examples and tutors:
http://www.dorbie.com/

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