scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers on "Graphics published in 1983"


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 1983

339 citations


Book
01 Aug 1983

272 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1983
TL;DR: A UIMS developed at the University of Toronto is presented which permits the applications programmer to use interactive graphics techniques to design graphics menus and their functionality and the resulting executable module is compiled with application-specific routines.
Abstract: A UIMS developed at the University of Toronto is presented. The system has two main components. The first is a set of tools to support the design and implementation of interactive graphics programs. The second is a run-time support package which handles interactions between the system and the user (things such as hit detection, event detection, screen updates, and procedure invocation), and provides facilities for logging user interactions for later protocol analysis.The design/implementation tool is a preprocessor, called MENULAY, which permits the applications programmer to use interactive graphics techniques to design graphics menus and their functionality. The output of this preprocessor is high-level code which can be compiled with application-specific routines. User interactions with the resulting executable module are then handled by the run-time support package. The presentation works through an example from design to execution in a step-by-step manner.

179 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1983
TL;DR: A visible surface algorithm and an implementation that generates shaded display of objects with hundreds of polygons rapidly enough for interactive use — several images per second.
Abstract: Described is a visible surface algorithm and an implementation that generates shaded display of objects with hundreds of polygons rapidly enough for interactive use — several images per second. The basic algorithm, introduced in [Fuchs, Kedem and Naylor, 1980], is designed to handle rigid objects and scenes by preprocessing the object data base to minimize visibility computation cost. The speed of the algorithm is further enhanced by its simplicity, which allows it to be implemented within the internal graphics processor of a general purpose raster system.

168 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
12 Dec 1983
TL;DR: Three of the human-factors experiments are described in this paper: A selection schemes test determined the number of buttons on the mouse pointing device and the meanings of these buttons for doing text selection, and an icon test showed us the significant parameters in the shapes of objects on the display screen.
Abstract: Integral to the design process of the Xerox 8010 “Star” workstation was constant concern for the user interface. The design was driven by principles of human cognition. Prototyping of ideas, paper-and-pencil analyses, and human-factors experiments with potential users all aided in making design decisions. Three of the human-factors experiments are described in this paper: A selection schemes test determined the number of buttons on the mouse pointing device and the meanings of these buttons for doing text selection. An icon test showed us the significant parameters in the shapes of objects on the display screen. A graphics test evaluated the user interface for making line drawings, and resulted in a redesign of that interface.

136 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1983
TL;DR: An interactive stereoscopic computer graphic workspace is described, where a conventional frame store is used for three-dimensional display, with left/right eye views interlaced in video and viewed through PLZT shutter glasses.
Abstract: An interactive stereoscopic computer graphic workspace is described. A conventional frame store is used for three-dimensional display, with left/right eye views interlaced in video and viewed through PLZT shutter glasses. The video monitor is seen reflected from a half silvered mirror which projects the graphics into a workspace, into which one can reach and manipulate the image directly with a “magic wand”. The wand uses a magnetic six degree-of-freedom digitizer. In an alternative configuration, a graphics tablet was placed within the workspace for input intensive tasks.

121 citations


Patent
22 Apr 1983
TL;DR: In this article, a microprocessor based data processing system with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in memory unit is presented.
Abstract: A microprocessor based data processing system including a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a display unit is provided with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in the memory unit. The graphics generator includes a first addressing unit for sequentially accessing the display instructions from the memory unit; a control unit for receiving, storing and decoding such instruction and for issuing supervisory and control signals in response to the binary state of each instruction; a second addressing unit for accessing graphics information from the memory unit in response to the supervisory signals from the control unit; and a third addressing unit for accessing movable object graphics stored in the memory unit.

115 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1983
TL;DR: The procedure for 2D-3D conversion provides a powerful new method for manual input of solid models, a common interface to all turnkey graphics systems, and, properly integrated with existing technology for scanning of drawings, a powerfulnew method for acquisition of CAD/CAM data bases from existing drawings.
Abstract: This paper describes the results of basic studies on procedures for creating solid models of component geometry from two-dimensional orthographic projections. An interactive graphic program was developed to allow the input of three orthographic views of a component geometry by digitizing from a drawing. The views may contain straight lines and circular arcs, solid or dashed. No restrictions are placed on the order or direction of lines and arcs in any view. Using an extension of the Wesley-Markowski procedure, the program constructs a three-dimensional solid model of the object. When the projections are ambiguous, multiple solid models are produced. The solid model may contain planar, cylindrical, conical, spherical and toroidal surfaces. Topological information of the solid model is stored in a winged edge structure. Geometric information is stored as vertex coordinates and surface equations.The procedure for 2D-3D conversion provides a powerful new method for manual input of solid models, a common interface to all turnkey graphics systems, and, properly integrated with existing technology for scanning of drawings, a powerful new method for acquisition of CAD/CAM data bases from existing drawings.The procedure is described, examples of typical input and output are shown, and possible extensions are discussed.

109 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The image-combining computer microscope is a new configuration of light microscope and computer graphics instrumentation which provides remarkable morphometric capabilities over a wide range of applications and is self-contained and carries out data analysis programs written in C or Basic.

87 citations


Patent
25 Oct 1983
TL;DR: In a multilocation video conference system, contention for the video to be transmitted to the locations is resolved by employing so-called talker and graphics contention resolution resolution processes as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In a multilocation video conference system, contention for the video to be transmitted to the locations is resolved by employing so-called talker and graphics contention resolution processes Both the talker and graphics contention processes may be overridden by manual selection of the video to be viewed at each location In the talker contention process, the video to be transmitted is not switched until one and only one talker location is detected during a predetermined talker timing interval In the graphics contention process, all requests for graphics transmission are rejected until one and only one graphics transmission request is detected during a predetermined graphics request timing interval Once transmission of graphics has been assigned to a location, all other locations in the conference are transmitted the graphics video information until the location displaying graphics releases from the graphics transmission mode or there is a manual override The location transmitting graphics information is transmitted the video from the last of the other locations selected for talker video transmission

85 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
13 Jun 1983
TL;DR: The architecture of a parallel computer called a pyramid machine, which combines features of tree machines and features of mesh-connected parallel computers, is presented, able to rapidly perform computations of local and global processing.
Abstract: This paper presents the architecture of a parallel computer called a pyramid machine. The system consists of a pyramidal array of processing elements, each of which executes the instructions broadcast by a controller. Each processing element except those on the outside of the array is directly connected to thirteen neighboring elements: eight on the same level, four on the next finer level and one on the next coarser level. The architecture combines features of tree machines and features of mesh-connected parallel computers. As a result it is able to rapidly perform computations of local and global processing. The main areas of application are image processing, graphics and spatial problem solving. The motivation, basic structure, and applications of the system are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 1983

Patent
01 Jul 1983
TL;DR: In this article, Toroidal panning is implemented that permits the user to pan across a view of the structure which is far larger than encompassed by an individual raster view.
Abstract: In this graphics data handling system a CAD workstation cooperates with the host computer which stores a site list representation of a complex three dimensional structure. Backdrop viewfile representation of the structure, advantageously with hidden surfaces removed, are established in vector format by data transformation from the site list. Bit map raster views are derived from the backdrop viewfiles, and are stored in a pixel memory. Video screen images of selected views of the structure are derived by readout of the raster view data from the pixel memory. During panning of the video screen display, when the image nears the edge of a raster view, a strip of data in that raster view, in the region opposite the direction of panning travel, is deleted. This is replaced by new data from a strip of the backdrop viewfile representing the portion of the structure immediately contiguous to the existant raster view in the direction of panning travel. With this arrangement, toroidal panning is implemented that permits the user to pan across a view of the structure which is far larger than encompassed by an individual raster view.

Journal ArticleDOI
Rob Pike1
TL;DR: This document describes a set of low-level graphics primitives to manipulate overlapping asynchronous windows, called layers, on a bitmap display terminal, which extend the domain of the general bitmap operator bitblt to include bitmaps which are partially or wholly obscured.
Abstract: One of the common uses of bitmap terminals is to store multiple programming contexts in multiple, possibly overlapping, areas of the screen called windows. Windows traditionally store the visible state of a programming environment, such as an editor or debugger, while the user works with some other program. This model of interaction is attractive for one-process systems, but to make full use of a multiprogramming environment, windows must be asynchronously updated, even when partially or wholly obscured by other windows. For example, a long compilation may run in one window, displaying messages as appropriate, while the user edits a file in another window. This document describes a set of low-level graphics primitives to manipulate overlapping asynchronous windows, called layers, on a bitmap display terminal. Unlike previous window software such as [mey81] and [tes81], these primitives extend the domain of the general bitmap operator bitblt [gui82] to include bitmaps which are partially or wholly obscured.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The outcome was that the three dimensional graphics did not result in greater recall of information than did a tabular representation for the task that was assigned.
Abstract: This article describes an experiment that examined the influence of computer plots of three dimensional graphics on the recall of information. Three dimensional graphics and a tabular mode of presentation were used to convey information to two experimental groups of subjects. The graphics were produced by using perspective projections. The outcome was that the three dimensional graphics did not result in greater recall of information than did a tabular representation for the task that was assigned.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Reduced data storage, simplified data, and faster plotting of designs on graphics displays' this algorithm has much to offer for IC mask making and CAD applications.
Abstract: Reduced data storage, simplified data, and faster plotting of designs on graphics displays?this algorithm has much to offer for IC mask making and CAD applications.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
16 May 1983
TL;DR: A set of tools that provide capabilities for analysis, design, module management, and report and graphics generation for automatic and semiautomatic decision support systems.
Abstract: As decision support systems become more commonplace, the demand for automatic and semiautomatic DSS development systems increases proportionately. Such systems provide a set of tools that guide the construction of models in response to a user's query. This paper describes a set of such tools that provide capabilities for analysis, design, module management, and report and graphics generation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The more complex the physical system, the greater the likelihood that hands-on operator training can damage it, and a computer model like Steamer offers a somewhat safer alternative.
Abstract: The more complex the physical system, the greater the likelihood that hands-on operator training can damage it. A computer model like Steamer offers a somewhat safer alternative.

Journal ArticleDOI
Tommy Liljefors1
TL;DR: An interactive computer graphics program designed to be used in conjunction with the molecular mechanics programs MM2 and MMP2 is described that allows the required input molecular structure to these programs to be interactively constructed on a graphics screen using a lightpen as input device.

Patent
22 Apr 1983
TL;DR: In this article, when a graphics window is opened, a program in the operating system establishes a control block containing a code that has been made unique within the user's program, and for operations within a window, a function packet is passed to the appropriate driver.
Abstract: A display system has a driver program for displaying alphanumeric characters and a driver program for displaying graphics. When a graphics window is opened, a program in the operating system establishes a control block containing a code that has been made unique within the user's program. For operations within a window, a function packet is passed to the appropriate driver. The operations are identified by the unique code and several independent windows can be created.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1983
TL;DR: This paper provides an overview of the system model, and descriptions of the various components of the current implementation, called the Abstract Interaction Handler (AIH).
Abstract: The Information Display Systems project is seeking, among other goals, to apply the principles of top-down design and functional abstraction to the design of interactive systems, particularly those involving interactive computer graphics. An important part of this effort is to develop a methodology and a programming environment to facilitate the functional separation of program modules handling a set of application semantics from program modules handling user interaction.We have developed a model for such an environment, and implemented a prototype version with a number of components:• an interaction language (IL) adapted from augmented transition networks, in which the syntax of interactive dialogs can be written;• an interpreter for the IL;• a set of "style modules" to handle such interaction style-dependent attributes as level of prompting and amount of information to be input in a "transaction";• a library of user profiles to carry information on users' preferred styles of interaction;• a logical-screen handler to handle distribution of different types of output onto logical viewing surfaces;• a library of interaction techniques.Graphics support is provided by a standard device-independent graphics package, in our case the ACM/SIGGRAPH/GSPC Core System. We have called this environment the Abstract Interaction Handler (AIH).This paper provides an overview of our system model, and descriptions of the various components of the current implementation. A number of interesting open questions are raised; proposals for improvements to the system are offered.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These guidelines presented here are not considered to be exhaustive, and were developed to apply to a specific system, but may be of considerable general interest in such situations.
Abstract: This paper presents, in the form of a case study, guidelines on relevant human factors considerations for use in designing a computer graphics system. Although the guidelines presented here are not considered to be exhaustive, and were developed to apply to a specific system, many of the issues addressed may be of considerable general interest in such situations. Both guidelines extracted from the literature and authors' design observations are presented for each of six principal system components addressed. These components are: the graphics display (color CRT monitor); the man-computer dialogue used for interactive communication (menu selection dialogue); the graphics tablet; an alphanumeric support display (black-and-white CRT monitor); an alphanumeric keyboard for inputing data into the support CRT; and the workspace within which these components are located. This study points out areas requiring further research and experimentation towards the development of man-computer interface guidelines.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
27 Jun 1983
TL;DR: An overview of the PV environment is provided, along with a detailed discussion of the technique used to instrument programs, to provide designers and programmers with both static and dynamic views of systems.
Abstract: This paper reports on the design and implementation of a program visualization (PV) environment, intended to offer the user an integrated graphics programming support system. The PV environment will capitalize on recent progress in the graphical representation of information, to provide designers and programmers with both static and dynamic (animated) views of systems. PV is currently being implemented to support programming in C, although large portions of the system are independent of the software development language. In this paper we provide an overview of the PV environment, along with a detailed discussion of the technique used to instrument programs.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The human brain responds to visual variables in predictable ways-something many graphics display creators should take into account when they organize and symbolize data.
Abstract: The human brain responds to visual variables in predictable ways-something many graphics display creators should take into account when they organize and symbolize data.

Patent
20 Jan 1983
TL;DR: In this paper, a machine-implemented method and computerized system for superposing one graphic pattern on another graphic pattern wherein the graphics are represented and generated electrically by rectangular arrays of digital signals corresponding to dot raster patterns to be printed or displayed.
Abstract: A machine-implemented method and computerized system for superposing one graphic pattern on another graphic pattern wherein the graphics are represented and generated electrically by rectangular arrays of digital signals corresponding to dot raster patterns to be printed or displayed. One graphic is a superior, or dominant, graphic while a second graphic is an inferior, or recessive, graphic. A computer is programmed to process the digital signals for producing dominant graphic contoured intermediate arrays for masking the array of the inferior graphic to produce a partial or fragmented array. The partial array is DOT ORed with the dominant graphic array to produce a pattern of superposed graphics separated by a background space contoured to the dominant graphic pattern.

Patent
16 May 1983
TL;DR: In this article, a microprocessor based data processing system with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in memory unit is presented.
Abstract: A microprocessor based data processing system including a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a display unit is provided with a programmable graphics generator that transfers graphics information from the memory unit to the display unit in response to and control of a set of display instructions also stored in the memory unit. The graphics generator includes a first addressing unit for sequentially accessing the display instructions from the memory unit; a control unit for receiving, storing and decoding such instruction and for issuing supervisory and control signals in response to the binary state of each instruction; a second addressing unit for accessing graphics information from the memory unit in response to the supervisory signals from the control unit; and a third addressing unit for accessing movable object graphics stored in the memory unit.

Patent
28 Feb 1983
TL;DR: In this article, a display system for displaying graph type data in a manner simulating the output of a multiple channel strip chart recorder is described. But this system is not suitable for the display of certain types of graphics information.
Abstract: Graphics display systems ideally suited for the display of certain types of graphics information are disclosed. The display systems utilize a black and white or color raster scan display having a vertical rather than a conventional horizontal raster scan. Data stored in the refresh memory of the display system is run length encoded so that a display pixel may be defined at any position along each vertical sweep of the raster scan or trace. Multiple channels allow the definition of multiple pixels on each scan, which allows the display of graph type data in a manner simulating the output of a multiple channel strip chart recorder. The system includes alphanumeric character generation and graphics character capabilities which allow the definition of grid lines and the labeling of information displayed. Methods and apparatus for providing windowing, panning, scrolling, horizontal compression, curve overlaying, panning of one curve with respect to other parts of the same curve or another curve, bar chart generation and other features and capabilities of the system are disclosed.

Patent
01 Sep 1983
TL;DR: In this paper, a computer-aided process is disclosed for automatically generating a camera-ready hardcopy of a graphical plot upon command instructions inputted via a conventional storage tube graphics display terminal having an addressable cross-hair cursor and a keyboard.
Abstract: A computer-aided process is disclosed for automatically generating a camera-ready hardcopy of a graphical plot upon command instructions inputted via a conventional storage tube graphics display terminal having an addressable cross-hair cursor and a keyboard. In accordance with an interactive graphics code or program, tabular data coordinates stored in computer file form are retrieved and plotted on appropriately titled and scaled axes with the plotted coordinates being interconnected along curves formed of a smooth or linear nature by interpolation. The graphical plot viewed on the display terminal is further enhanced by inclusion of labels, shaded areas, and reference symbols and characters prior to printing out the hardcopy of an associated hardcopy unit coupled to the display terminal.

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1983
TL;DR: A Vision System designed for building accurate models of industrial parts is described, made of a laser rangefinder, table on which the parts are positioned and can be translated vertically and rotated under computer control, and a set of algorithms to produce accurate geometric models of the part based on the measurements made by the laser.
Abstract: A Vision System designed for building accurate models of industrial parts is described. Potential applications include tolerancing testing, data base acquisition and automatic recognition of objects. The system is made of a laser rangefinder that measures the position in space of points on the parts by active stereoscopy, a table on which the parts are positioned and can be translated vertically and rotated under computer control, and a set of algorithms to produce accurate geometric models of the part based on the measurements made by the laser. Representation and recognition results are presented on a variety of objects as shaded graphics displays.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Many scientists and technicians rarely venture beyond 2-D plots in their computer graphics, but since an additional dimension is so helpful and accessible 3-D should be exploited.
Abstract: Many scientists and technicians rarely venture beyond 2-D plots in their computer graphics. Since an additional dimension is so helpful?and accessible?3-D should be exploited.