High-tech devices from EVL

UIC's Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) takes visualizing data and information to new heights. EVL technology was used during the inauguration of Barack Obama when the Department of the Interior used a portable version of EVL's OptIPortal — a wall-sized display of flat-screen LCD monitors that show ultra-high-resolution images backed by supercomputer power — to provide expansive, razor-sharp aerial pictures of the inauguration site. The wall display measures four by eight feet, delivers a 35-megapixel image, and runs EVL-developed software named "Magic Carpet," called "Google Maps on steroids" by Jason Leigh, associate professor of computer science and EVL's co-director.

In late 2008, EVL unveiled TacTile (above), a display device that puts interaction with high-definition scientific imagery at the fingertips of scientists — literally. The multi-touch, 52-inch LCD tabletop display lets multiple users pan, zoom and interact with highly detailed imagery and applications in real time and with improved resolution and accuracy over displays based on video projection. TacTile targets scientific researchers who require high resolution to gain insight into complex datasets and to tackle 21st-century problems ranging from the origin of the universe to global climate change.

View all in the sampling of the articles in the 2008-09 Annual Report.