uPy: A Ubiquitous CG Python API with Biological-Modeling Applications

Author

Autin, L. ; Johnson, Garth ; Hake, J. ; Olson, Arne ; Sanner, M.

Author_Institution

Scripps Res. Inst., La Jolla, CA, USA

Volume

32

Issue

5

fYear

2012

Firstpage

50

Lastpage

61

Abstract

The uPy Python extension module provides a uniform abstraction of the APIs of several 3D computer graphics programs (called hosts), including Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, and DejaVu. A plug-in written with uPy can run in all uPy-supported hosts. Using uPy, researchers have created complex plug-ins for molecular and cellular modeling and visualization. uPy can simplify programming for many types of projects (not solely science applications) intended for multihost distribution. It´s available at http://upy.scripps.edu. The first featured Web extra is a video that shows interactive analysis of a calcium dynamics simulation. YouTube URL: http://youtu.be/wvs-nWE6ypo. The second featured Web extra is a video that shows rotation of the HIV virus. YouTube URL: http://youtu.be/vEOybMaRoKc.

Keywords

application program interfaces; biology computing; computer graphics; ubiquitous computing; 3D computer graphics programs; Blender; Cinema 4D; DejaVu; Maya; Web extra; biological modeling applications; cellular modeling; cellular visualization; uPy Python extension module; ubiquitous CG Python API; Adaptation models; Biomedical image processing; Computational modeling; Data visualization; Graphical user interfaces; Molecular biophysics; Three dimensional displays; 3D molecular visualization; Adaptation models; Biomedical image processing; Blender; Cinema 4D; Computational modeling; Data visualization; Graphical user interfaces; Maya; Molecular biophysics; Python; Three dimensional displays; computer graphics; scientific data visualization; software plug-ins; uPy;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer Graphics and Applications, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1716

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MCG.2012.93

Filename

6311371