A remote visual interface tool for simulation control and display

The authors discuss the design and development of the Visual Interactive Simulation Interface Tool (VISIT). VISIT was designed to provide the graphical representation and user interface for a simulation that is running on another processor utilizing internet communications. Since the simulation processor may be any system capable of implementing the proper network protocol, specialized processors with no graphics display devices can benefit from this architecture. The system provides support for various input devices to control the simulation display and environment. Simulation objects are displayed using either a 3D wireframe representation or a Gouraud shaded representation. Viewer interaction with the simulation is provided by a collection of commands that allow the viewer to initialize, start, stop, abort, and restart the simulation. The viewer also has the ability to establish checkpoints. Upon reaching a checkpoint the viewer can step through the output display and/or manipulate the objects within the simulation