IVE (IMAGE VISUALIZATION ENVIRONMENT) - A SOFTWARE PLATFORM FOR ALL 3-DIMENSIONAL MICROSCOPY APPLICATIONS

IVE (image Visualization Environment) is a software platform designed from the outset to handle all aspects of modern computerized multidime nsional microscopy. This platform provides users with an execution env ironment in which 5D data (XYZ, wavelength, and time) can be easily ma nipulated for the purpose of data collection, processing, display, and analysis. During the entire process, powerful data display functions are readily available for extracting complicated three-dimensional inf ormation through data visualization. By employing both the shared memo ry and multitasking features of the UNIX operation system, individual functions can be implemented as separate programs, and multiple progra ms can access the same data pool simultaneously. This enables users to combine the functionalities of different programs to facilitate each unique data analysis task. Furthermore, by defining an appropriate pro gram execution model, commonly shared functional components such as da ta display, data I/O and user interface, etc. can be implemented using simple IVE library calls. This dramatically reduces the program devel opment time and ensures consistency throughout the entire software sys tem. As a result, users can quickly master the microscopy software sys tem and new functions can be easily integrated, as different functiona l requirements arise for different research projects. (C) 1996 Academi c Press, Inc.