Kagenori Kajihara

Next-Generation Visual Supercomputing Using PC Clusters with Volume Graphics Hardware Devices

To seek a low-cost, extensible solution for the large-scale data visualization problem, a visual computing system is designed as a result of a collaboration between industry and government research laboratories in Japan, also with participation by researchers in U.S. This scalable system is a commodity PC cluster equipped with the VolumePro 500 volume graphics cards and a specially designed image compositing hardware. Our performance study shows such a system is capable of interactive rendering 5123 and 10243 volume data and highly scalable. In particular, with such a system, simulation and visualization can be performed concurrently which allows scientists to monitor and tune their simulations on the fly. In this paper, both the system and hardware designs are presented.

Virtual Human Body using Haptic Devices for Endoscopic Surgery Training Simulator

We have been developing a virtual human body using haptic devices for the endoscopic surgery training simulator. This system is composed of two 3-DOF haptic devices and a control board with USB2.0 interface. This system is connected to a host computer through Ethernet. Two operational tools are connected to haptic devices each through holes on the virtual body, and the operator is able to feel the sense of touch with virtual organs.