IBM's New Visualization Technology

Last Thursday, IBM announced IBM Deep Computing Visualization (DCV), a technology that combines IBM xSeries IntelliStation workstations and middleware to support high-performance visualization.

The idea behind DCV is to adapt visualization to the way life scientists work today.

For example, many past high-performance visualization efforts focused on immersive environments such as 3D caves or walls of tiled monitors. "These were great when you could bring everyone together," says Becky Austen, director of Deep Computing Marketing. But she notes that today, many life science companies and research organizations rely on collaboration between dispersed groups, each with different areas of expertise.

To address this challenge, DCV technology offers secure remote access to visualization and collaboration tools.

At the same time, IBM is addressing the shift away from Unix visualization systems. Similar to computational biology's shift away from proprietary systems, the DCV approach uses commodity components (e.g., central and graphical processing units) and open-source graphics applications to support high-performance visualization.

Specifically, the DCV provides a middleware infrastructure to support and enhance the graphics functions of OpenGL software applications running on IntelliStation workstations, which run Linux.

According to market research firm IDC, the goal of the DCV is to leverage the price/performance advantage of commodity graphics components and InfiniBand or Gigabit Ethernet adapters, without sacrificing the needs of high-end users.

To support visualization in a distributed research environment, the DCV offers two visualization modes for high-end images. First, there is the Scalable Visual Networking (SVN) mode, which lets a researcher increase the screen resolution and image size when an image is displayed. The second mode, called Remote Visual Networking (RVN), allows remote use of a visualization application. In general, the SVN supports larger and higher-resolution images, such as those that might be found in an immersive environment; RVN lets researchers collaborate over low-bandwidth networks.

One consequence of this dual-mode operation is that it might help organizations build visualization into complex workflows. Today, most visualization projects are designed to run on a specific system, and the results are optimized for the display hardware that the primary researchers would use. By being able to quickly provide access to a graphic image regardless of the display hardware, visualization could be incorporated into a normal workflow.

What do you think? Are you considering a shift from a proprietary visualization environment? Drop me a note at Salvatore_Salamone@bio-itworld.com with any issues I should be covering in this area.

Featured Events

Leverage Natural Products for Drug Development conference - February 28 - March 1, Philadelphia, PA Beyond Genome 2005: The Future or Medicine - June 13-16, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA Predicting Drug Safety and Risk - May 23-24, Boston, MA IT Solutions for Drug Discovery program at Bio-IT World Conference + Expo - May 17-19, Boston, MA Best Practices Awards - Call for Entries - Deadline, April 15th Would you like to see your conference or event listed here? Contact Shari Redan at shari_redan@bio-itworld.com for more information.

Expo Preview

This May, I will again serve as co-chairman of the "IT Solutions for Drug Discovery" conference track at the Bio-IT World Conference + Expo.

Like last year, the track runs over a three-day period (May 17-19) and includes industry leaders speaking on a wide range of cutting-edge topics.

Speakers have been drawn from the entire spectrum of life science organizations (pharmaceutical, academic research lab, biotech, government organizations, etc.). Among the pharmaceutical companies represented are Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis.

While the theme of the conference track - the use of IT and informatics to speed drug discovery - remains essentially unchanged from last year, the topics covered this year are quite different.

For example, last year several of the speakers focused on their organizations' informatics platform development efforts in support of making drug discovery more efficient. While the content of these talks were great, it seemed that the appeal was limited: You got a lot out of it - if you were using the same informatics platform.

This year, we have broadened our scope. To keep pace with industry developments, there are talks on systems biology, simulation, and the use of biomarkers in discovery informatics. And there will be several case studies in which speakers will describe how they attacked a new problem. For example, as a featured speaker we have Steve Walker, CIO of the U.K. Biobank. Walker will talk about designing and building an information management architecture to support the U.K. Biobank's efforts.

Over the next few months, I will bring you more-detailed information on a handful of select sessions. For now, you can find a complete list of the speakers and a description of the talks here.

Details on the entire conference and expo, which will be held in Boston, can be found here.

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Featured Events

Upcoming Industry Events Leverage Natural Products for Drug Development conference - February 28 - March 1, Philadelphia, PA http://www.cbinet.com/events/HB517/index.html  Attend CBI's Leverage Natural Products for Drug Development conference, February 28 - March 1, 2005 in Philadelphia, PA to better understand the value of natural products in the drug development process and methods for harnessing the opportunity they present. Special team discount rates are available. For more information or to register, please contact the Center for Business Intelligence toll free by phone at 1-800-817-8601 or via e-mail at cbireg@cbinet.com Beyond Genome 2005: The Future or Medicine - June 13-16, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA.  This event Features programs on Bioinformatics, RNA Interference, Proteomics, Systems Biologym, and new to 2005 Genomic Variation. We anticipate more than 1,000 scientists and over 40 exhibiting companies. visit www.beyondgenome.com for more information. Predicting Drug Safety and Risk- May 23-24, Boston, MA CBI's Predicting Drug Safety and Risk - Actual Application of Systems-Based Omics Technologies in Reducing Attrition Rates and the Costs of Drug Discovery is designed to help companies to achieve this goal - to innovate and modernize drug safety tools and practices so that compounds may be screened more effectively and quickly in discovery as opposed to down the line when cost and risks are greater. For more information or to register, please contact the Center for Business Intelligence toll free at 1-800-817-8601 or via e-mail at cbireg@cbinet.com, or visit http://www.cbinet.com/events/HB533/index.html  IT SOLUTIONS FOR DRUG DISCOVERY CONFERENCE PROGRAM - featured at Bio-IT World Conference + Expo - May 17-19, Boston, MA Register by April 1 with Priority Code: B0203 and SAVE! http://www.bio-itworldexpo.com/live/26/events/26BOS05A/conference/CC881012 IT Solutions for Drug Discovery, a specialized conference program features a stunning assembly of speakers and thought leaders. Through presentations, case studies and panel discussions, attendees will learn about the latest in In silico and systems biology approaches to drug discovery, IT challenges in buildling the UK Biobank, databases for biomolecular information, advances in high-performance computing, including Blue Gene, and applications of the semantic web. Register Today: http://www.bio-itworldexpo.com/live/26/register Bio-IT World Best Practices Awards - Call for Entries - Deadline April 15 Enter the third annual Best Practices Awards recognizing the innovative use of technology and business strategies to accelerate the drug discovery and R&D process. Participate in the program Dr. Francis Collins refers to as " a traditiona we can all expect to continue".   Visit www.bio-itworld.com/bestpractices/ for more information.