CoVis is the first PC program capable of making animated scientific graphs. CoVis works by displaying a series of graphs so rapidly on the screen that the graphs appear to be one graph with constantly changing data. The animation is done in real time -- it is not (as in some other programs) done by rendering and storing each frame and then playing back the frames. As a result, CoVis is completely interactive -- there are no delays waiting for a series of frames to be rendered.
CoVis opens up new possibilities for researchers working with mathematical models, data acquisition boards, chaotic systems, and other sources of large or dynamic data sets, by providing a dramatically better tool for visualizing data. The nine types of animated graphs provide researchers with different ways of looking at their data, allowing them to sift through the data and search for interesting features in ways that were difficult or impossible before.
Additional Features:
Nchannel graphs draw one or more time series on a graph and allow users to scroll through the data. The time series can be in separate horizontal windows or plotted together in one window.
2D and 3D snake graphs use one time series as the X data, another time series as the Y data, and for 3D snake graphs, another time series as the Z data. Snake graphs plot a portion of the time series at a time. Each frame of animation adds the next data point to the head of the snake and discards the data point at its end, causing the snake to move forward slightly. An array of colors are used to draw the snake to highlight its movement. The snake graphs can be used to make dynamic versions of phase portraits and Ruelle plots, which are indispensable in the study of chaos and nonlinear dynamics and other studies of the relationship of 2 or 3 variables (e.g., in predator-prey population studies).
Contour, vector, and wireframe graphs plot spatial data (data taken from a grid of sensors) that change in time. A contour graph plots colored blocks in a rectangular array. A vector graph draws an arrow at each point on the grid - the angle, length, width, and color of the arrow can vary with the data, thus allowing 4 or more dimensions to be visualized. The wireframe graph plots data as a 3D graph with a wireframe connecting the data points. A fourth variable can be used to specify the color for parts of the wireframe.
The points graph can plot data points and line segments (lines with 2 points) in 3D space. Points graphs can be used to view a set of points in 3D space from any angle by interactively changing the viewpoint. The 2D and 3D programmable graphs, unlike the other kinds of graphs which take raw data and plot it on graphs, take drawing commands (commands for lines, markers, filled areas, text, etc.) and draw those objects. These graphs give users access to the animation engine within CoVis and can be used to make animated "movies" of anything. This is useful for making animations of the results of non-numeric simulations (for example, modelling the growth of a plant). Data files for the programmable graphs can be created by CoPlot or CoDraw (CoHort Software's plotting and drawing programs) or by custom programs written by users. The manual has a detailed description of the drawing commands.
(The samples are black and white to save time. CoVis supports color -- any object can be any color.)
Ordering Information - To order, call (800)728-9878 (Visa and MasterCard are accepted). Or, send a check, money order, or purchase order. CoVis is $159. CoVis has a 30-day money-back guarantee. When ordering, please specify 1.2 MB 5.25'' or 1.44 MB 3.5'' disks. For the U.S. (UPS 2-day) and Canada, the shipping charge is $7. For anywhere else, the shipping charge is $16. Minnesota residents: add your county's sales tax. International orders must be paid with a credit card or an international money order (in U.S. dollars, drawn from a U.S. bank). Network versions are the same price for the server plus 50% off for additional node licenses. The student price is $99. Volume discounts are available.
System Requirements:
CoHort Software
Email: info@cohort.com
Phone: (800)728-9878 (best if between 9am and 5pm Pacific time)
Fax: (831)647-1054
Mail: CoHort Software, 798 Lighthouse Ave, PMB 320, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
CoHort Software - creating reasonably-priced, high-quality scientific
software since 1986
Go to: CoHort Software | DOS Versions | Top