Interactive display of molecular models using a microcomputer system.

Abstract

An interactive graphics display system (IGDS) which presents perspective views of wire frame models is described. The display unit is a microprocessor driven TERAK 8510a system with a grid of 320 . 240 points. A brief discussion of the hardware is given. While the system is quite general - it can draw a perspective view of any type of wire frame model - emphasis here is on molecular models. The graphics software has been written in UCSD PASCAL. The program employs traditional computer graphics algorithms available in the literature, The data structure used by the program was designed to occupy minimal disk storage space. Data files can be constructed locally or can obtained through a communications link with with a central computer facility. Despite the inherent slowness (due to matrix operations being performed by the software calculations rather than hardware), the low cost of the system suggests general applicability. The program is easy to use, interactive, and produces good results from systems up to 200 points.