Table 1.

Feature summary and comparison of imaging data visualization packages. This table summarizes some of DV3D's key features and compares DV3D's functionality with three commonly used imaging data visualization tools, FSLView, MriCron and 3D Slicer. Features are accurate as at the time of initial development of DV3D.

Software feature	FSLView	MRICron	3D Slicer	DV3D
NEUROIMAGING DATA SUPPORT
Optimised for neuroimaging	✓	✓	–	✓
Structural MRI	✓	✓	✓	✓
Functional MRI	✓	✓	✓	✓
DTI – probabilistic	✓	–	–	✓
DTI – tractography	–	–	Calculated online	Loaded from memory
DTI – 2d vectors	✓	–	–	✓
DTI – 3d vectors	–	–	✓	✓
MEG/EEG contour plots (2D and/or 3D)	–	–	–	✓
MEG/EEG 3d time-series on surface	–	Single instant	–	Full dynamic
MEG/EEG dipoles	–	–	–	✓
MEG/EEG butterfly plots	–	–	–	✓
DATA EXPLORATION
2D statistical map overlay	✓	✓	✓	✓
3D statistical map overlay	✓	–	–	✓
Interactive surface extraction	–	–	Complex watershed	Simple isosurfaces
Real-time atlas cross-referencing	If data in MNI space	–	–	4 × 4 Transform required
COMPLEX VISUALIZATION FUNCTIONS
Real-time reformatting	–	–	Single plane	Multiple planes
Interactive data intersection	–	–	–	✓
Interactive time-series interrogation	2d fMRI only	–	–	2D and 3D fMRI, EEG and MEG
Batch processing from command line	✓	–	–	✓
EXPORT
Static images	–	✓	✓	✓
Movies	–	–	✓	✓
Real-time streaming	–	–	–	✓
TECHNICAL
Main code base language	C,C++,Tcl/Tk	Pascal	C++,Tcl/Tk	Python
Platform independent code base	–	–	–	✓
Access to parallel processing	–	–	–	✓