Advanced Graphics

Lecturers: Dr N.A. Dodgson and Dr P. Robinson
(nad@cl.cam.ac.uk and pr@cl.cam.ac.uk)

No. of lectures: 8

Prerequisite course: Computer Graphics and Image Processing

Six lectures from Dr Neil Dodgson on 3D modelling; two lectures from Dr Peter Robinson on human-computer interaction.

Basic 3D modelling.

Revision of the ray tracing and z-buffer methods of making images from 3D models; the pros and cons of each approach. Polygon mesh management: data structures. Ray tracing primitives.

Less primitive primitives.

Conics, quadrics, and superquadrics. Generative models: extrusion, revolution, sweeping, generalised cylinders. Converting these representations into polygons for z-buffer drawing.

Exotic 3D modelling ideas.

Constructive solid geometry (CSG): set theory applied to solid objects. Implicit surfaces and voxels: 3D pixels and the marching cubes algorithm.

Splines.

Bezier curves and surfaces. B-splines: from the basics to Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS). [2 lectures]

Radiosity.

Solving the inter-object diffuse reflection equations to produce beautiful images.

Human-Computer Interaction.

Introduction: cycle of dialogue. The human virtual machine: Hick's Law, model human processor, Fitts' Law, power law of practice. System evaluation: usability analysis, GOMS, keystroke level modelling. User interface design: novel user interfaces. [2 lectures]

Recommended books:

Newman, W.M. & Lamming, M.G. (1995). Interactive System Design. Addison-Wesley. [HCI]

Foley, J.D., van Dam, A., Feiner, S.K. & Hughes, J.F. (1990). Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice. Addison-Wesley (2nd ed.). [3DM]

Rogers, D.F. & Adams, J.A. (1990). Mathematical Elements for Computer Graphics. McGraw-Hill (2nd ed.). [3DM]