VIZA 653

Computing for Visualization II

Spring 2005

TR 11:10am-12:25pm, Architecture C 307, 4 credits

Professor: Donald H. House

Visualization Lab, phone: 5-3465, email: house@viz.tamu.edu, Office hours: 2:00 - 3:00 M, 11:00 - 12:00 F, or by appointment

TA: Radhika Thirunarayanan, email: radhika@viz.tamu.edu, Office hours in Viz Lab: 5:00 - 7:00 W, or by appointment

Web Page: http://www-viz.tamu.edu/courses/viza653/05spring/
Course Home Directory: /usr/local/misc/courses/viza653/2005

Students

Grades

Assignments

Schedule

Introduction

Text and References

Documentation/Notes 

Introduction

This course is the second of two primarily intended for those Visualization students whose technical backgrounds have not prepared them for core courses in The Digital Image (VIZA 654) and Image Synthesis (VIZA 656). It is also intended as a course for advanced students in the College of Architecture and elsewhere who wish to develop an understanding of the use and programming of visual workstations. The course will be challenging, and fast paced, and will involve considerable outside work on the computer. This course is not intended for students with extensive background in Computer Science.

Course Objectives

This course is a second technical course on computing for graphics, with the first course being VIZA 652. This course builds on the foundation provided by VIZA 652, and completes a comprehensive coverage of the technical and computing background needed for the core courses in the Visualization Program. In this course, students will learn advanced topics in C programming and concepts of object-oriented programming in C++. In addition, students will learn the mathematical foundations for computer graphics. This course includes programming projects designed to promote familiarity with 2D and 3D graphics concepts.

Prerequisite

VIZA 652 or knowledge of C programming/OpenGL and approval of the instructor.

Course Schedule Outline

10 quizzes, 1 final exam

Lecture Topics

  1. Quick Review of C Programming
  2. Advanced C Topics
  3. Introduction to C++ Programming
  4. C++ Topics
  5. Linear Algebra for 3D Graphics
  6. Curves and Surfaces
  7. 3D Graphics in OpenGL

Grading

Late homework assignments will be penalized 10% for each day late. The lowest grade on homework assignments turned in will be dropped before computing a student's final homework average. Assignments not turned in will receive a grade of 0.

The final exams will be closed book. However, students will be permitted to bring one 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of notes to use during the exam.

The class participation grade is the instructor's qualitative evaluation of subjective factors including class attendance and preparation as evidenced by informed classroom discussion.

Text

Reference Reading Material

Plagiarism

The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By "handouts," I mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to the course notes, syllabi, exams, problems, in-class materials, review sheets, additional problem sets, and the contents of the class World Wide Web site. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission. For the contents of class World Wide Web sites, you have permission to make printouts strictly for your use in this class.

In this course, we want to encourage collaboration and the free interchange of ideas among students and in particular the discussion of homework assignments, approaches to solving them, etc. However, we do not allow plagiarism, which, as commonly defined, consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.

If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section on Academic Misconduct.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Student Services Building. The phone number is 845-1637.

Academic Integrity Statements

AGGIE HONOR CODE  “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.

For additional information please visit: www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/