Acton, Massachusetts-based Wavetracer Inc has unveiled an Image Processing Library for its massively parallel Data Transport Computer product family, to help non-plussed workstation users develop programs that are optimised for use on parallel processing architectures. Areas addressed by the library include medical imaging, satellite data processing, seismic interpretation and movie production. Wavetracer, which over the last few months has been in the headlines with the launch of the Zephyr deskside massively parallel computer, which costs only $85,000, says its new image processing library includes its three-dimensional convolution filters and three-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform algorithms, which are accessible through the company’s multiC programming language, enabling programmers that are familiar with C to create advanced two-dimensional and three-dimensional applications. According to the firm, systems integrators and workstation software developers have already shown strong interest in using the library to develop applications for volume-oriented imaging markets. One of Wavetracer’s partners is a company called Earth Satellite Corp, based in Rockville, Maryland, which is using the Wavetracer hardware and the new image processing library to develop software applications in in the area of high-performance satellite imaging. The Data Transport Computer range, which can comprise up to 16,384 processors, currently hooks up to Hewlett-Packard Co, IBM Corp, Silicon Graphics Inc, Sun Microsystems Inc, and Apple Computer Inc systems. The Wavetracer Image Processing Library will ship next month, for $10,000; Wavetracer parallel computers sell for from $85,000 to $350,000.
