Press Room

Good looking: Visual Display Solutions
Panoram Technologies, Inc

Multi-force military operations have traditionally required expensive visual display systems to integrate and analyse large volumes of information. But now, a range of affordable, off-the-shelf solutions are available.

One of the most important developments in the field of military command and control is the move towards the network-centric management of information. With network-centric information management, command structures can use PC computers, HTML, Java and other web browser technology as a common 'language' for distributing information across services, nations and commands. The network-centric approach leverages the technological developments of the past decade to provide off-the-shelf, affordable and maintainable solutions that provide numerous information-sharing capabilities to multi-force and multi-national operations.

Panoram has leveraged its multi-projector and multimedia approach to visualisation systems to provide giant canvases on which command forces can display large numbers of browser windows in various sizes and shapes or switch to a larger more specialised visualisation computer for specific analysis applications.

3D or not 3D
There is a great deal of research being done on whether or not 3D visualisation of data is more effective than 2D. It seems that, although added insight can be derived from viewing data in 3D, the added navigation parameters that 3D visualisation requires are something that operators and analysts are not yet comfortable with, especially in pressure situations. This will change over the coming few years as
the value of dimension-in-data views is demonstrated.

Traditionally, large-scale visualisation computers suffered from lack of software support and high cost. But there are now some feasible options available that utilise graphically enhanced PC systems. A good multi-processor, Windows based
system with a powerful multi-channel, openGLcapable graphics card is a highly effective solution for general deployment. Key to this for visualisation is a new generation of super powerful, multi-channel graphics cards such as the Matrox Parhelia technology running on multiprocessor Windows systems. They can support multiprojector 3.8 megapixel resolutions, 3D and surprising performance at commodity prices.

Integration needs
Many ministries of defence urgently require integration technology so that they can see and understand the flood of data better and make faster decisions. Panoram’s
technologies are all about achieving that end. The company is dedicated to making the technology transparent so that users can concentrate on the key issues rather than the technology. A good example of this is Panoram's Integrator 2000 drag-and-drop control system for visualisation facilities. This system simplifies the task of getting image sources onto the various displays in the facility by encoding all the source and display parameter setting into intelligent icons. This means that, when the commander wants to see the situation overview, the operator simply drags the icon for the situation mapping computer into the image of the large display screen. Instantly, all the display, projection, blending, audio, switching and other settings required to get that computer onto the screen are taken care of by the control software.

Arrayed imaging
Panoram’s latest and most advanced solution in arrayed imaging is the Digital Imaging Table (DIT). This device has a resolution and a form factor never before available. It uses four projectors in a seamless two-by-two matrix integrated into a light or sand table format. The 4.23- million-pixel, 65-inch diagonal screen is as close to electronic paper as anyone has ever seen. The technological challenges for this product were immense. For example, fully automatic projection calibration was vital, and, in a table format, where the user is always looking at the display at a sharp angle, new optical screen technology was required. Also, the entire system needed to be packaged into a working table height while providing the necessary image size and resolution to replace paper maps. The DIT represents the absolute state of the art in arrayed imaging and has an important role to play in civilian and military command and intelligence operations worldwide.