Table of Contents

Facility User Guides

This page gives an overview of each of the KVL user facilities and a basic user guide.


For additional questions or support, contact the KVL @ help@vis.kaust.edu.sa

Zone 1

Zone 1 is a Windows OS based 2D display wall. This wall features a central operators station, and functions just like a standard Windows desktop environment. The wall is a 4×3 planar configuration with 24 megapixels.

Zone 2

Zone 2 is a 2D display wall in a 10×4 planar configuration with 40 megapixels. The wall features several different connection methods. The backend is a Linux cluster allowing for custom distributed visualizations to be displayed, or images and videos can be shown using the installed DisplayCluster software. In addition, users can stream their own desktops to the wall through DisplayCluster using the DesktopStreamer software provided below. Lastly, the wall makes use of Cinemassive, which allows us to switch the wall to a Windows desktop environment or to a wireless display configuration, allowing users to wirelessly connect their laptops, phones, or other devices to the wall using a web browser.

I have Something on My Computer I need to Display, how to do this?

There are many options to accomplish this, try one of the options below.

How do I Play Videos or Show Presentations on Z2 - Tiled-Display-Wall?

  • Use One of the Connected PC's Using the IPad
    • Powerwall - Windows system displaying SAGE
    • Presentation - Windows system for showing presentations
    • Video - Windows system for showing videos
    • Mac - Mac system for showing presentations or videos
    • Meeting - Wirelessly connect your own device, See MirrorOp
    • Linux - Linux based system available in single or wide screen
  • To upload files to any of the Windows PCs, use below link

How do I stream content to Z2 - Tiled-Display-Wall using DesktopStreamer?

How do I stream content to Z2 - Tiled-Display-Wall using MirrorOp?

  • Select Meeting on the IPad
  • Launch a web browser
    • Go to: https://www.barco.com/en/product/mirrorop
      • Download the MirrorOp software for your Mac or Windows computer
    • Launch to software
      • Input the IP (109.171.138.168), click connect
      • Enter passcode: 2304
      • Click:

What is SAGE?

Smart Amplified Group Environment (SAGE) is a collaborative screen space where users can collaborate across devices and from remote locations. SAGE rooms are essentially boundless whiteboards where users can take notes, give presentations, share screens and more. All of this is then saved and can be used again later. In the KVL we use SAGE for our demo wall, which means that you can use it to view your collaborative space in large-format across our 40 screen Z2. This system is set in Wall mode, which gives a viewport to all clients, so that you know what information can be seen on the main screen. View the SAGE QuickStart guide and download SAGE to get started.

An awesome benefit of SAGE is that everyone in your group can have SAGE running and interact live with the board for collaborative meetings, discussions, and even to give presentations.

  • Select Powerwall on the IPad
  • Navigate to your SAGE board

KVL has their own instance of a SAGE server running on campus, meaning that anything uploaded to the server stays inside of KAUST. Simple go to: KVL SAGE Server.

  • If you don't want to download the SAGE client, you can view and create boards through the internet browser.
    • NOTE: Some functions may not work properly in browser

Zone 5

Zone 5, or NexCAVE, is a semi-immersive VR environment featuring an array of 7×3 stereo HD displays (22 megapixels) in a semi-circle configuration. It allows for partial immersion in your data, individually, or more ideally, with a large group, which is one distinguishing featuring setting it apart from head-mounted-displays. Users can use either Avizo or Unity in Zone 5.

How do I run Avizo on Zone 5?

You can use the front-end Windows computer on the left side of Zone 5 to run Avizo. TechViz is used to connect Avizo with Zone 5.

  • Start TechViz Controller - a shortcut is typically pinned to the taskbar or you can search for it using the Windows search bar. Note that it is required to start TechViz before Avizo!
  • Once you see the TechViz Controller window, start Avizo - a shortcut to the latest Avizo version is typically pinned to the taskbar or you can search for it using the Windows search bar.
  • Load your Avizo project or dataset - you can access files via a USB port, datawaha, or download your data locally from your cloud storage.
  • Once your project or dataset is loaded, make sure you have a visualization module, e.g., volume renderer, surface viewer.
  • In the TechViz Controller window, click the VR icon (leftmost icon), then click the 3D view window of Avizo (where the visualization is displayed). This should initiate the connection between Avizo and TechViz.
  • In Avizo, create a TechViz Connection module (right click in Project View, click “Create Object”, then look for and create TechViz Connection object).
  • Click on the TechViz Connection object in the Project View. In the Properties window, click the “connect” button. Once the connection is finished, the “Center” and “Auto Scale” buttons will become active.
  • Click the “Center” button to place your visualized data in the center of the view. Optionally, click the “Auto Scale” button to rescale or resize the visualization to fit in the view.
  • You can now put on the 3D glasses with tracker balls and hold the controller in your hand. The visualization should adjust based on your position. You can also use the controller to grab and move the visualization (press and hold the trigger button with index finger while moving the object), or fly around using the joystick.
  • You can also interact with some Avizo modules directly via the immersive environment - double click on the controller's rightmost button to display the Avizo menu.

Cubes

The Cubes is a semi-immersive virtual reality environment featuring a 7×3 arrangement of stereo HD panels (42 megapixels) in a semi-circle configuration. It allows for partial immersion in your data, individually, or more ideally, with a large group, which is one distinguishing featuring setting it apart from head-mounted-displays. Users can use either Avizo or Unity in CUBES.

How do I run Avizo on CUBES?

You can use the front-end Windows computer on the right side of CUBES to run Avizo. TechViz is used to connect Avizo with CUBES.

  • Turn on the screens by tapping on the control tablet (below the monitors) to turn it on, then press “Power On”.
  • Follow exactly the same steps for running Avizo on Zone 5.

Vive

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices are available for use in the laboratory, along with high-end workstations for VR/AR development. More information about AR/VR tools can be found here. This documentation is particularly for the workstation located in Bldg. 1, Showcase area - this high-end machine has 2 Intel Xeon CPUs (E5-2667 v4 @ 3.2 Ghz), 768 GB RAM, RTX 8000 GPU with 48 GB VRAM. It is equipped with an HTC Vive Pro 2 for VR development/demos and a Wacom Cintiq pro pen and tablet interface for manual image segmentation. It can also be booked for short-term use for running compute intensive Avizo processing such as large-scale deep learning segmentation. When booking, make sure to select the “Vive” option in our booking page as shown below.

Vive VR Machine Guide

The Vive machine is equipped with an HTC Vive Pro 2 head-mounted-device which can be used for:

Users can log-in to this machine using their KAUST credentials. Shortcuts for the publicly available applications, e.g., Avizo and Unity, will be found in the Desktop. Below are some guidelines for using this machine:

How do I run Avizo on Vive VR?

Similar to Zone 5 and CUBES, TechViz is used to connect Avizo with the Vive VR headset.

  • Follow exactly the same steps for running Avizo on Zone 5 except that instead of the 3D glasses, you use the Vive headset and its controllers.
  • You can also follow along this video (note that TechViz has to be opened before Avizo).

Multi-purpose Room

The multi-purpose room is a theater-like presentation space with a capacity of 70 people. The room supports regular presentation needs as well as stereoscopic presentations from 3D interactive applications or movies. This room is used for meetings, workshops, and other campus functions. It features wireless microphones, a blue-ray player, a high-resolution 3D capable projector (BARCO HDX W18 @ 1920×1080 pixels), and a Mac laptop and podium. In addition to the main screen, there are 6 TVs placed on the walls around the room that can be set to display output from the same source as the projector, or even a different source if multiple things need to be shown simultaneously.


This facility is the only known 3D stereo Auditorium at KAUST