#NASA image reader?
17 messages in this thread
Greetings — I've got a number of CD-ROM's that contain images from NASA,
JPL, and other government types. They are in a type of IMG, though not the
IMG supported by many commercial programs.
Does anyone know of a viewer say with a bit better interface than what NASA
offers on these ROM's? Maybe something under Windows? Or at least if you
know what I mean maybe you know of a more recent version. I'm not sure what
I have:-) But if you know of anything that might be better than what I
have, I'd sure love to know about it.
Same goes for the Mac. If you know of an access program I'd be interested.
The one I have is dated early 89. Lots happened since then.
-JD-
John the latest viewer I know of is called IMDISP version 7.7. It has a
'91 date and in is the Simtel 20 archive. It's also here on Compuserve in
Graphics support forum. GO GRAPHFF to find it. Its interface may be no
better than the one you have. If you find a Windows based viewing program
please let us know!
OK thanks Bruce. Let's all keep our eyes open for a better viewer:-)
-JD-
John…I'm very interested in NASA images, especially those from Viking,
Voyager and similar probes. Any suggestions as to sources. The only one I
know is Univ. of Colo. Thanks in advance.
-Larry
I think I've seen messages posted here of offers a time or two. The disks I
have I acquired from others. And the first disk I got, I can't recall where
I got it. I've had it for years. But if I can come up with any
address/phones that I can confirm I'll post a message here. Please if you
also find anything new please let us all know.
-JD-
John…Univ of Colo has a series of CDROMs with the raw pictures of some of
the outer planet missions. Also Hopkins Technologies has a disk of 100
space images. I'm trying to get more info on that one. Be seeing you.
-Larry
There is a file in the astronomy forum that lists sources for NASA images.
Hopkins Technology has a CD-ROM called Amazing Universe with some of the
NASA images.
Bruce…Thanks, I'll go look.
-Larry
John-
A Windows version to read .img files is available with Amazing Universe
CD-ROM. AUCDR is a cherry picked compilation of various images including
infrared satellite, hubble, telescope, voyager, etc. images.
The Windows version will be released with Amazing Universe packages sold
after Feb 1st. Current users will be offered the windows version at a
nominal cost.
For more info: 800-397-9211
Phil
Hopkins Technology
PS – Video for Windows images will be available on Amazing Universe
sometime in the spring.
PPS – Since we're in Minnesota, spring tends to be a little later than the
rest of the country.
PPPS – We also carry _thousands_ of all the best images on CD-ROM for
virtually all of the NASA probes.
Thank you, Thank You…
I'm getting in line now:-)
-JD-
I'm writing a book on deskto video, and I will be including VFW sequences
on a CD-ROM that comes with the book. Are you interested in promoting your
products by putting a few video sequences on the disk? If so, send me
private email telling me how to contact you.
Ron
Phil…Are there any Viking pictures of the Martian surface on AU? Thanks
-Larry
John
The viewer on the Amazing Universe CDROM, ProVision is a lot better than
IMDISP (It was actually developed from Imdisp). It is still DOS_based but
now mouse-controlled, although rather "clunky" and unfriendly. It will only
read FIT, IMG and ARN files, but can write GIFs and TIFs.
dw
I originally received IMDISP 4.4, along with the "Voyages" 12-disc CD-ROM
set. It was, to say the least, woefully inadequate (though back in 1988, it
might have been "hot").
I took some time and located IMDISP 7.8 from the developers. Using it
convinced me that it was much better. More device support, and some
amazing feature improvements, particularly in the area of filters, which
can be used for image enhancement. Also, the FILE command actually
provides a menu-driven navigation through the CD-ROM's directory structure,
as opposed to having to remember paths and file names in IMDISP 4.4 (gag!)
It can run under Windows (as a DOS app, not native Windows). They even
supply PIF and ICO files for it. The mouse is supported for uses such as
moving the cursor.
Looking at IMDISP and the NASA Voyager images as a whole however, there is
still a lot missing. A proper viewer would tie together the database of
images, browse versions (*.IBG) of images, and the images themselves into a
proper point-and-click interface, with search/filter capabilities, etc.
I'd be interested to learn if ProVision on the Amazing Universe CD-ROM fits
this description, or if it is an enhanced, yet still imcomplete product…
Regards, Mark
I got IMDISP v7.9 from here on CIS recently (forgotten where, possibly
ASTROFORUM).
ProVision uses the mouse for menu-selection and cursor-pointing, but numbers
u have to type in. You can select files by "point-and-shoot", with
directories appearing as "<d>" and "Parent <d>" etc. Currently its DOS-only
but runs fine under windows. It needs no installation and auto-detects
superVGA cards.. good marks for that. However the overall effect is rather
patchy, unfinished and very awkward compared with current standards of
mouse-driven software. However it works and hasn't crashed yet (more than I
can say for some very famous pieces of software). browsing is awkward and
slow. U can save as GIF and TIF and read into other graphics software.
There is NO printing capability, and no UNDO. Also one or two small bugs in
it. It aint the answer to all your prayers. Whether its worth investigating
depends on what you have to pay for it and whether there IS anything else.
For instance, some software that came with my VGA card had quite a bit of
image-processing features, very fast and powerful, Windows. Stuff like
Corel-Draw might do it too, and I have heard about something like
PhotoPublisher that may be of interest.
A feature I'd find interesting would be a "design-your-own" process
interpreter built in. After all, any image is just a 2D array, once it is
read in. enough of this ..
bye
dw
Dave,
Thanks for the rundown on ProVision.
>> A feature I'd find interesting would be a "design-your-own" process
>> interpreter built in. After all, any image is just a 2D array, once it
is
>> read in.
Hey, with IMDISP they give you the program source. How much more
"design-your-own" can you get? <ROFL>
Regards, Mark
well the source didn't come with the version I downloaded from CIS !
dw