IrisVision
| Company type | Expansion card |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Silicon Graphics |
| Products | 3D accelerator cards |
IrisVision represents an expansion card created by Silicon Graphics in 1991 for IBM compatible personal computers, ranking among the earliest 3D accelerator cards designed for the premium PC segment. It adapts the graphics processing pipeline from the Personal IRIS workstation to function with IBM's Micro Channel Architecture as well as the consumer-oriented Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) buses. IrisVision was pioneering in bringing a version of IRIS GL to the PC platform, preceding the development of OpenGL.
History
Silicon Graphics introduced the MIPS-based Personal IRIS workstation in 1988. Subsequently, IBM licensed its graphics subsystem along with the IRIS Graphics Library (IRIS GL) API for use in their RS/6000 POWERstation series. The creation of IrisVision was an unanticipated outcome of SGI’s initiative to adapt this graphics subsystem for IBM’s Micro Channel Architecture, which facilitated easier debugging on an IBM PS/2 system.
R.C. Brown provided a summary:
IrisVision was eventually spun off into a company named Pellucid, which was later acquired by Media Vision.
Overview
Mirroring its Personal IRIS origin, IrisVision handles both 8-bit and 24-bit raster images and includes a 24-bit Z buffer. It integrates a fifth-generation Geometry Engine without requiring hardware upgrades. At the same time, SGI developed "Express Graphics" for their IRIS Indigo workstations, which evolved from the IrisVision technology.
To exploit the 32-bit processing capabilities of the 80386 and 80486 CPUs and accommodate up to 2 GB of memory, IrisVision incorporated a custom 32-bit C compiler along with the PharLap DOS extender. Since IRIS GL operates in full-screen mode under MS-DOS—which lacks a graphical user interface—developers created user interfaces directly within IRIS GL.
When introduced, 3D graphics hardware was a novel feature on microcomputers and largely absent from IBM PCs, where VGA was just beginning to appear. IrisVision delivered an innovative 3D graphics solution on Intel-based systems running MS-DOS.
Recognizing its potential, AutoDesk provided support for IrisVision within key CAD and 3D software titles such as AutoCAD (versions 12 and 13) and 3D Studio (versions 2 through 4). Although Windows compatibility was later developed, only a limited number of GUI applications took advantage of the card.
IrisVision remained a specialized product since IRIS GL had not yet become the leading 3D API—PHIGS maintained that status—and awareness of 3D graphics beyond CAD applications was minimal. SGI’s subsequent significant PC hardware initiative was the SGI Visual Workstation.
See also
- Elan Graphics
- Extreme Graphics – Successor to Express Graphics cards
- IMPACT (computer graphics) – Follow-up to Extreme Graphics cards
- SGI VPro – Debuted on the Octane2, continued on Fuel and Tezro systems
- Quadro – Nvidia graphics cards for SGI PC-based workstations
External links
- The Very Unofficial IrisVision Homepage – Comprehensive product details
- Computer Chronicles 1990 – Segment featuring IrisVision's debut at Comdex (25:15)
- SGI IrisVision Description – Archived trademark information