We’ve come a long way.
Almost eight years ago, we began a journey to make 3D mathematics more accessible and more fun. Working alongside a summer Vector Calculus course led by Dr. John Eggers of UC San Diego, we developed the initial pilot of what would become Calcflow, the 3D graphing calculator for virtual reality. Originally released (and still available!) for PCVR through Steam and Oculus, Calcflow brought tools to dive into vector calculus: you could plot two-variable functions and see the geometric interpretation of double integrals; you could plot 3D vector fields and examine flow lines; and the hallmark tool, you could plot parametrized surfaces and gain intuition behind the concept of a “2-variable input, 3-variable output” function.
Dr. John Eggers prototyping a 3D graphing calculator with Google’s Tilt Brush circa 2016.
Now, eight years later, we’re excited to announce that we’re entering the new era of spatial computing by bringing you Calcflow on the Apple Vision Pro! Available now on the Vision App Store as “Calcflow Vision”, our initial v1.0 release brings you a calculator to plot two-variable functions. (We’re working on the rest!)
We’ve come a long way - and yet, we still have so much more to offer. We hope you’ll continue to follow us as we realize our “vision” for a platform that brings 3D mathematics to life.
What is Calcflow Vision?
Calcflow Vision is our current app available for the Apple Vision Pro, and we’ll eventually be adding in all the great features from the original PCVR Calcflow - and more! Currently, Calcflow Vision provides you with an immersive interface for visualizing two-variable functions, of the form z=f(x,y). You can grab the graph and rotate it, or physically walk around and inspect it. Our calculator includes common constants and functions found in science and engineering, and we even have some preset graph models to get you started.
Whether you're a student striving to grasp complex mathematical concepts or a seasoned mathematician looking to visualize intricate functions, our Calcflow Vision’s 3D graphing calculator offers invaluable insights and enhances the learning experience. By providing a visual representation of mathematical functions in a spatial context, users can better comprehend the relationships between variables and identify patterns that may not be immediately apparent in traditional 2D representations. The immersiveness of Calcflow Vision brings users a whole new level of interactivity with mathematics, giving you a fresh perspective on mathematical concepts and allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of 3D mathematics.
A big Thank You to everyone who supported the initial Calcflow project
The initial development of Calcflow could not have been possible without the support of key individuals from UC San Diego. As previously mentioned, Dr. Eggers and his Math 20E class of Summer 2016 gave us the initial ideas and testing opportunities to build out what would eventually become Calcflow. Even before then, we had help from the Physical Sciences Division through funding and mentorship.
One of our biggest champions early on was the late Dr. Jeff Remmel, who was interested in the development of a virtual reality tool to support mathematics education. While he may no longer be with us, Dr. Remmel’s passion and commitment for mathematics education continues to drive Calcflow.
Providing the funding for the grant we received in 2016 was Dr. Richard Libby, who also saw a vision for both a VR mathematics tool and a VR molecular visualizer. Not only did he help with the initial project, but Dr. Libby continues to support Nanome Inc as one of our valued investors.
Without the support of all these individuals, Calcflow would not be where it is today. Thank you to all of our investors, advisors, and users for your support of our product and our organization.
Calcflow and Nanome - Two Peas in a Pod
You might be familiar with Nanome Inc’s flagship product - Nanome! Nanome (the software) is our enterprise-grade XR suite built for drug discovery and design, used by both industry pharmaceutical companies and universities all over the world. And in case you haven’t seen yet, we’ve begun our journey to bring the core Nanome platform to the Apple Vision Pro - learn more about our demo app, NanoSpin, here.
Now, you might be wondering… why do we have a math software and a chemistry software? Mathematics lays the theoretical foundations for much of the physical sciences, and the physical sciences then allow us to describe the various phenomena we see everyday. As such, Nanome’s core vision is to build the ultimate interface for engaging with STEM and providing a platform to experience math and science on a deeper level. From holding a molecule in your hand or looking at a simple paraboloid, to designing the next life-saving drug or studying flux through a vector field, Nanome seeks to make STEM more intuitive, more immersive, and more accessible to researchers and learners alike.
If you have Apple Vision Pro, be sure to download Calcflow today!
We will continue to bring over more of the features you love from the original Calcflow, like parametrized surfaces, vector fields, and even a taste of linear algebra. Stay tuned!