PDT FAQ

Questions

1. What is PDT?
2. Is PDT a magnifier?
3. What is the difference between PDT and my current zooming and panning capabilities?
4. How can I get PDT?
5. Who should purchase the PDT SDK?
6. What are the primary benefits associated with embedding the PDT SDK into existing applications?
7. Where is the market for PDT?
8. What is the price of Pliable Display Technology (PDT)?
9. What are the system requirements for integration of the PDT SDK?
10. How is PDT packaged/sold?
11. What files and data types does PDT work on?
12. Can you change the lenses?
13. How big can the images be?
14. Does PDT support multiple lenses on the same image?
15. Does PDT support distance measurement?
16. Can you edit the data in the lens?
17. How can I get a demo?

Answers

1. What is PDT?
   PDT stands for Pliable Display Technology. PDT is a detail-in-context viewing technique that uses distortion to show both local detail and global context in the same view. PDT provides in-place magnification within the focal region of the lens. The sides of the lens, referred to as the shoulder region, provide continuous transition to the unmagnified surrounding.
   
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2. So, is PDT a magnifier?
   Magnifying is just one of PDT's many capabilities. What makes PDT unique are the complex algorithms built within the geometry engine that can displace points and objects appearing within the shoulder and focal region of the PDT lens, then can reverse or "undisplace" the points back to the original data coordinates. These patents-pending algorithms enable what IDELIX calls detail-in-context functionalities such as magnification, editing, distance measurement, and viewing within 2D and 3D technologies that have integrated PDT.
   
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3. What is the difference between PDT and my current zooming and panning capabilities?
   IDELIX built the PDT lenses as a solution to the problems encountered when working with large amounts of 2D information on a limited-size display screen. With existing viewing tools it is difficult to understand how, when zoomed into a detailed region of interest, this information relates to the rest of the data set that is too big to fit on the screen. Zooming in and out to resolve this loss of context is inefficient and a distraction from the workflow process. Attention is diverted from the task at hand and contextual connections are left to be resolved cognitively instead of being seen on the display screen. PDT provides an efficient method of working with data by enabling end users to view important detail without losing site of the surrounding information.
   
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4. How can I get PDT?
   IDELIX has simplified the integration of PDT by creating a PDT Software Development Kit written for applications that run on Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac, Solaris and WindowsCE (PDA) platforms. The SDK is available to OEMs and System Integrators through the IDELIX Partner Program.
   
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5. Who should purchase the PDT SDK?
   Our target customers are leading OEMs and Systems Integrators that can integrate PDT to create an efficient workflow process for tasks involving visualization, creation, manipulation, or extraction of data. Major opportunities for PDT exist in markets where 2D visualization software plays a large role, such as Government and Defense.

   Industries where Visualization Software plays a large role include:

   • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing (RS)
   • Computer Aided Design (CAD)
   • Seismic Imaging
   • Digital Image Processing
   • Electronic Media
   • Medical Imaging
   • Handheld/Wireless
   • Electronic Games
   
   
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6. What are the primary benefits associated with embedding the PDT SDK into existing applications?
   PDT was created to improve the productivity and workflow of our customer's end-users. Designed to be used on a variety of hardware types, from compact handheld/wireless devices through to PC's, PDT provides an innovative solution to the "screen real estate" problems that arise when trying to examine large amounts of information on limited-size electronic screen displays. With Pliable Display Technology, end-users use dynamic lenses and focal shapes to enhance their abilities to navigate, magnify, examine, extract and edit detail that would otherwise be hidden from plain view. The magnification of image detail appears seamless; PDT features the unique ability to navigate within images and maps without experiencing the usual loss of surrounding information and context encountered with existing zooming, panning and inset viewing technology.

   With the addition of PDT, IDELIX's partners will:

   • Add increased value to existing visualization software by offering end users a tool that will result in increased productivity
   • Gain first-mover advantage in markets such as Geographic Information Systems, CAD/CAM, Seismic Imaging and Digital Image Processing
   • Create a sustainable competitive advantage
   • Generate additional revenue through innovative product enhancements and offer greater value to your business partners and customers
   • Address the consumer and end-user demand for detail-in-context display technology
   • Lead their industry in establishing Pliable Display Technology as the standard solution to the "screen real estate" problem
   • Have access to a complete set of detail-in-context image viewing functions including a multi-lens library, multiple lens capability, in-place editing, lens characteristic controls and industry standard format protocol interfaces

   In summary the end-user benefits are:

   • Improved productivity
   • Improved workflow
   • Increased ability to see the important details without losing context
   • Minimized search time
   • Maintained navigational cues
   • Improved interaction with data sets
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7. Where is the market for PDT?
   The PDT market is global. Our strategy involves creating partnerships with the leading software application developers and systems integrators, whose headquarters are typically located in North America. However, we are not restricted in any way from dealing with partners outside of North America.
   
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8. What is the price of Pliable Display Technology (PDT)?
   Our product price depends upon a number of factors including functionality, unit volumes, co-development / co-marketing activities, and support. The Software Development Kit is available for a 90-day evaluation period, which allows partners and customers to obtain access to our API and developer support. For further information on pricing, contact partners@idelix.com.
   
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9. What are the system requirements for integration of the PDT SDK?
   Operating System
   • Microsoft Windows, Windows CE
   • Unix variants such as Solaris, IRIX, and Linux
   • Mac OS X

   C++ Compiler

   • The PDT Software Development Kit was written in ANSI C++ without reliance on advanced features such as templates or exceptions. This restriction ensures that PDT is compatible with a wide range of C++ compilers
   
   
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10. How is PDT packaged/sold?
    Pliable Display Technology (PDT) is licensed (i.e. embedded) within industry leading software applications and solutions. This results in revenue generated from co-development, co-selling and embedded license royalties.
    
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11. What files and data types does PDT work on?
    PDT operates on all forms of vector, raster and text data, and is not file format specific. Processing of the various file formats is handled by our partners and customers' software applications and solutions.
    
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12. Can you change the lenses?
    The PDT SDK hosts an API that comes with a standard set of lenses and focal shapes. However, these are completely configurable allowing the end-user and application developer to create and customize new lens types. Magnification, scale, size, shape, and focal region are among the configurable parameters for the lenses. The user interface can be provided by the host application; for example, a toolbar of pre-set lenses could be created.
    
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13. How big can the images be?
    PDT is not the limiting factor on image size. Image size is usually constrained by available memory and the specific application's use of that memory. PDT has been shown to work with images in excess of 100MB. Consultation with customers and partners is required to optimize the use of PDT within any image or display pipeline, whether the application is running on the desktop, over the Internet or on a handheld PDA.
    
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14. Does PDT support multiple lenses on the same image?
    PDT supports multiple lenses on the same image.
    
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15. Does PDT support distance measurement?
    The coordinate system of the base image is completely maintained within the lens. This provides for accurate distance and coordinate measurement within the lens, between the lens and the base image, and between lenses.
    
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16. Can you edit the data in the lens?
    Unique to PDT is Undisplace. The Undisplace algorithm provides the ability to accurately map points within the PDT lens back to their corresponding locations in the original data coordinates. Undisplace opens the door to integration of host-application functionality in the PDT lens. The spatial transformation of the PDT lens is completely reversible permitting accurate in-place editing functions and interactive metadata.
    
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17. How can I get a demo?
    Visit http://www.idelix.com/demos.shtml to download executable PDT demos.
    
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