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CoVis

Unique Software for Animated Scientific Graphs

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:

  • Spin - allows for interactive rotation of 3D graphs.
  • 2nd graph - optionally allows time series to be dynamically plotted in a second graph simultaneously.
  • Overlay drawing - optionally allows a static drawing (e.g., a map) to be displayed in the background.
  • User-friendly, interactive, menu-driven interface.
  • Macros - to automate routine procedures, or to make demos for presentations.
  • Data import - import data sets of any size from ASCII, dBASE, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, and Quattro files.
  • Functions - can be animated by generating data sets in the data file editor.
  • Versatile, spreadsheet-style data editor - includes procedures to sort data, perform algebraic transformations, select a subset, find outliers, perform an FFT, etc.
  • High-quality fonts - including Times, Helvetica, Century, Courier, Greek and mathematical symbols.
  • High-quality output - to all major printers and plotters, at their highest resolution.
  • For slide makers and desktop publishing software - exports graphs to common graphics file types.
  • Comprehensive manual - includes lessons, help cards, and reference section.
  • Compatibility - with CoPlot (for scientific graphs), CoStat (for statistics), and CoDraw (for technical drawings), for easy access to a full complement of software tools for scientific data analysis and graphics.

Graph Descriptions:

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.)

CoVis sample graphs (1)

CoVis sample graphs (2)

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:

  • IBM PC or PS/2 compatible computer with DOS 2.0 or higher. The network version requires DOS 3.0 or higher.
  • 440K free memory. 2M disk space (half of which is for the optional sample files). CoVis is not copy protected.
  • CoVis can use, but does not require, a Microsoft compatible mouse and LIM EMS 3.2 (or higher) memory or a RAM disk.
  • CoVis does not need nor use an 8087.
  • Screens (ranked from fasted to slowest) - S3-based Super VGA 1024x768 (highly recommended), ATI Graphics Ultra or Vantage 1024x768, EGA, Hercules, ATT 6300, MCGA, VGA, Super VGA 800x600.
  • Output - Printer support includes all major printers including (but not limited to) HP LaserJets and DeskJets (including the 500C/550C), PostScript printers, color PostScript printers, and 9 and 24 pin dot- matrix printers. Plotter support includes all HP plotters and other HPGL and HPGL/2 compatible devices. Graphics file support (used to export graphs to word-processors, other graphics programs, slide makers, etc.) includes CGM, HPGL, HPGL/2, Lotus PIC, PCX, encapsulated PostScript EPS, SCODL, Lasergraphics LL, Targa TGA (type 9), and WordPerfect WPG files. Output to any driver can be captured in a disk file.
Free Technical Support - Just email, call, fax, or write.

CoHort Software
Email: info at 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

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