Research is being performed on a three-dimensional (3-D) graphics workstation based on the CUBE architecture, which is centered around a cubic frame-buffer of voxels with three processors accessing the cubic memory to input geometric and scanned data, to manipulate, to project, and to render the 3-D images. An inherent 3-D user interface employing a true 3-D input device and the complementing 3-D screen environment is being developed. Skewed memory organizations of the cubic frame buffer that provide conflict-free access to beams in arbitrary directions are being simulated. Finally, a viewing architecture that allows direct and faster arbitrary parallel and perspective projections is being simulated. The architecture designed is a versatile 3-D workbench for medical, engineering, biological, geological, and other 3-D visualization applications. The principal investigator's prior work on the CUBE architecture (supported by NSF) is well-recognized and well-respected. His idea of voxel memory is an innovative and sound engineering approach. The approach using VLSI is in the right direction and avoids the conventional bus delays. This proposal represents one of a few serious academic efforts in developing substantial computer graphics hardware ideas. The work proposed will likely lead to tools that help scientists to visualize three-dimensional images. Support is strongly recommended.
