The Envision Center

The Envision Center for Data Perceptualization was officially approved as a center by Purdue University in 2002. Directed by former CGT Department Head Dr. Gary Bertoline , the supporting staff for the Envision Center is being funded through Purdue University 's central IT group, Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP).

The funding includes three research scientists : Laura Arns, Raj Arangarasan, SCoTt Meador; Steve Dunlop , a technical architect; Dwight McKay , a system administrator; a secretary, Nancy Smigiel ; and funding for graduate and undergraduate students. Most of this staff has been hired and has begun working on research projects with faculty or are preparing for the opening of the facility. One post-doc, Benjamin Mora, has also been partially funded with David Ebert , a co - PI on the NSF MRI grant.

Purdue is investing approximately $1.8 million in the remodeling of 5500 square feet of space for the Envision Center . The space will include a Virtual Reality Theatre featuring seating for up to 50 people for viewing stereo images on an 8' by 30' power wall which can be re-configured into a 4-sided CAVET. An adjacent room will be used to support research, development, and integration of haptic devices with computer graphics. Another room in the facility will have ten 9.1 mega pixel flat panel displays donated by IBM for viewing high resolution imagery. A 12-tile stereo display will also be in the faculty along with an Access Grid node, machine rooms, lobby, and office space.

The staff has been active in supporting research and learning through a number of projects with various faculty. The staff is currently working on projects with faculty in Chemical Engineering, Speech and Audiology, Theatre, Computer Science, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biology, and Physics.

Two portable stereo projections systems, one rear and one front projected, have been developed and are available for faculty to use in their classroom to enhance instruction. The Envision Center has also been included in a number of research grants in the past year.

For more information on the Envision Center , please contact Dr. Gary Bertoline (765-494-0541), Steve Dunlop (765-494-8561), or Nancy Smigiel (765-496-2228).

TECH 101 - Women in Technology: Exploring the Possibilities This course addresses issues unique to women in technological fields. The basis of TECH 101 is to stimulate involvement and interaction with working women in technology careers and with other women technology students. This course also provides information and strategies for the academic and interpersonal skills needed to succeed in a technology career. In addition, it includes presentations by professional women who have achieved success in technology-related professions. If anyone would like to recommend a women from their company that would be willing to speak in our TECH 101 course and if they are interested to please have them contact Sue Miller at sgmiller@tech.purdue.edu . We bring in about 4-5 guest speakers each semester for this course and it would be great to get a woman in a Computer Graphics Technology.