LOW-COST GRAPHICS SYSTEM FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AND RELATED INDUSTRIES.

Abstract

A main application area of the Graphics Systems Research Group at IBM UKSC, is visualising and modelling biologically active molecules. Mostly, this requires expensive hardware. However, in the course of this research a need has been identified for a lower cost facility for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Using an alphanumeric terminal with graphics capabilities, IBM 3279, many molecular graphics applications have been explored. The terminal has a programmable symbol set, capable of displaying graphics in seven colours with a screen resolution 384 multiplied by 720. This paper discusses applications of this display, including its use for viewing structures from a 3-D relational database; modelling molecule interactions; representational graphics; biotechnology; molecular dynamics; and graphics application program development.