Improved Groundstation Consoles Using New Visualization Techniques and Graphics Technology

Abstract

The advance from alphanumeric terminals to displays using new graphics technologies like the X Window System and Microsoft Windows has in many cases failed to tap the full potential of these technologies. Many common telemetry tasks continue to use similar user interfaces based on tabular real-time data displays and menus. This paper will demonstrate the application of new techniques which, when used with emerging graphics technologies, will maximize the effectiveness of telemetry ground station consoles. Advances in visualization and animation have greatly enhanced the information content of current displays and significantly improved their ease of use.