Digital Workshop

As I've mentioned in the past, I work for a 4 billion dollar drilling company and am tasked with overhauling the antiquated training system. I am relying on Opus for the vast majority of the projects. I've already begun to enlist some contract Opus help and will need lots more. First production is underway, with quite a lot by summer.

One of the hottest and most complex projects is a drilling simulator. Our rigs are completely computer controlled by a Wonderware-based industrial control system. I've been given a high priority to investigate a software-based emulator for basic training purposes and, of course, my first choice is Opus. Most of what is required is within Opus capabilities, though very complex and large. One thing that concerns me, however, is a requirement for at least two screens. The software actually uses three, but I can get by with one and one for graphics and video feedback. I've been a dual-display user (can't imagine another way anymore) for years and am well aware of the issues. I may be able to use a graphics card that will send video to a second screen, but I'd like a bit more flexibility in what goes where. I realize that the "jury rigged and patched" nature of Wintel systems means that even with the appropriate calls Opus can't control some cards. However, if you guys could focus on a couple of mainstream chipsets like Radeon and nVidia we'd be able to feedback results on others as they are tried. I know the nVidia in my developers workstation here doesn't display highlights on the object list when I select objects on the edit screen unless I drag it to the same display, which bodes ill for reliable dual-screen programs. However, advanced training software really requires more than one screen.

I'd certainly like to see Opus in the lead in this area. It is going to happen. In fact, it is happening here now...

Regards,
Dave