SAMP/PLASTIC and astronomers

[Igor Chilingarian]

Hi all,

Yesterday I gave a VO-oriented talk on a purely scientific ESO workshop 
entitled "Gas and Stars in Galaxies - A Multi-Wavelength 3D Perspective".

Yesterday I ran a demo with the optical IFU data and a bunch of tools (Aladin, 
VOSpec, Euro3D client) interacting using PLASTIC. After my presentation there 
was a panel discussion on the 3D visualisation and analysis.

Message I would like to transfer to the IVOA Apps IG as a feedback for my 
talk and the following discussion.

1) There is a need in the astronomical community for an *EASY WAY* of 
interaction between (sophisticated) data visualisation and analysis tools 
written in different programming languages by different people (i.e. 
interoperability).

2) I've made some advertisement, and the audience was quite impressed by the 
capabilities already provided by PLASTIC and by the forthcoming SAMP. However, 
astronomers want THEIR TOOLS to work the same way. They also tend to hide 
under the tables when the hear the word "Java" (although I explained that 
everything is language independent).

3) There is an initiative among radio (sub-mm) community involving people 
connected to ALMA and radio-astronomers to achieve the interoperability between 
visualisation and data analysis tools. Names of people involved in this 
project (those, I discussed personally with): Thijs van der Hulst (Kapteyn 
Institute, University of Groningen), Francois Viallefond (Observatoire de 
Paris). Since this project is yet on its very early stage, I do think it is a 
good point now for the IVOA Apps IG to take a contact and try to promote SAMP 
there.

With best regards,
 						Igor