Today’s Applications

Texaco has four 3-D Visualization Centers and Giselle Smith (1999) reported on the Houston center. Geologists and geophysicists use the facility to analyze seismic data and predict oil well placement more accurately. Facilities like Texaco’s have the potential to dramatically reduce the
number of low or non-producing wells drilled. The 3-D visualization technology allows information to be processed in 1 day instead of 2 weeks dramatically decreasing the time from data collection to projection. Most 3-D visualization centers use Silicon Graphics computers, but there is no industry standard for software.

Peter Burrows (2001) states that Colgate-Palmolive Co. has installed SAP corporate software to allow the company to have a real-time direct connection to cash registers at Wal-Mart Stores and Kmart. The software allows production rates to be modified immediately based on real-time sales monitoring. The company only ships
products the stores are selling.

Unifi Inc. company headquarters is located in Greensboro, NC and all factory equipment in its 22 locations is accessible from headquarters. Customers may access data through the company’s web site.