2005: Existing unit GCO3817 Computer Graphics being updated to fit into the new BITS degree structure with new FIT unit code.

This third level IT elective provides students with the opportunity to develop higher level knowledge of the theory and programming of computer graphics.

At the completion of this unit, students will have:

1. knowledge of the fundamental concepts and techniques used in the field of computer graphics
2. knowledge of the history of computer graphics and associated technologies
3. an understanding of modern technologies used in computer graphics
4. an understanding of and ability to apply the principles used in modeling light sources, object materials and light-surface interactions as required to develop realistic, efficient and effective graphics
5. an understanding and ability to apply the mathematical transformations and operations necessary to develop and display views of modeled two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) environments
6. an understanding of the compromises and simplifications necessary to create interactive graphics compared to complex realistic graphics produced off-line under conditions demanding few temporal constraints
7. an understanding of more advanced computer graphics techniques such as ray-tracing, transparency and shadow determination
8. the ability to analyse a visualisation problem, determine appropriate structures and models, evaluate alternative techniques and build an application to solve the problem within the capabilities of the tools available

At the completion of this unit, students will have:

9. the ability to listen to, compare and evaluate the thoughts and opinions of experts and novices in the computer graphics field and determine the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments
10. the confidence to state their opinions and participate in discussions while recognising the limitations of their knowledge and understanding

At the completion of this unit, students will have:

11. the ability to design, develop and debug software applications written in C/C and using OpenGL. OpenGL is a very powerful graphics library that is widely used commercially including the games and entertainment industry.
12. the experience of utilising basic elements within the OpenGL library to create more complex entities and to use texture mapping and other techniques to make these entities appear more realistic and convincing

ASCED Discipline Group classification: 020115 Computer Graphics

Introduction to computer graphics: brief history, applications, hardware and software and the fundamental ideas behind modern computer graphics. Development of visualisations of two dimensional and three dimensional objects and environments using device-independent programming, graphics primitives and attributes. Study of mathematical transformations including translation, rotation, scaling and projections. Introduces ray-tracing, texture mapping, transparency and shadows. Utilises the OpenGL graphics library for practical work.

Introduction to computer graphics: brief history, applications, hardware and software and the fundamental ideas behind modern computer graphics. Development of visualisations of two dimensional and three dimensional objects and environments using device-independent programming, graphics primitives and attributes. Study of mathematical transformations including translation, rotation, scaling and projections. Introduces ray-tracing, texture mapping, transparency and shadows. Utilises the OpenGL graphics library for practical work.

Angel, Ed Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-down Approach with OpenGL (4th Ed), Addison-Wesley, 2006, ISBN 0-321-31252-X

Hill, F.S Jnr Computer Graphics Using OpenGL (2nd Ed), Prentice Hall, 2001, ISBN 0-13-320326-3

Hearn, Donald and Baker, Pauline M. Computer Graphics (3rd Ed) Prentice Hall, 2003, ISBN 0-13-015390-7

On-campus and off-campus learning modes

Computer Graphics uses lectures, tutorials, workshops, study guides, newsgroups and practical assignments to meet the objectives.

Off-campus students will have access to all components that the on-campus students have but not necessarily in the same format. Lecture notes, tutorial questions and answers, workshop exercises will all be made available to off-campus students from the unit website.

All students will be given study guides and access to the unit newsgroups for discussion between unit coordinator and students.

OpenGL is freely available to both on-campus and off-campus students.

Study guides and lectures will introduce CG including a history of significant developments from both the hardware and software aspects (C2 and C3), the fundamental techniques (C1), light-surface interactions (C4), transformations and projections (C5), interactive constraints (C6), advanced techniques (C7) and analysis and modeling of systems (C8). In addition lectures will present the theoretical aspects of OpenGL and its basic elements (P1 and P2).

Tutorials will reinforce the students understanding of objectives C1, C4, C5, C7 and C8 through directed discussion of the concepts and theory involved. In addition further practical problems and case studies will ensure the skills required for C5 and C8 are developed.

Workshops will give students many examples of the use of OpenGL to create a range of displays, in addition follow-on exercises encourage students to think more deeply about how the graphics library is organised. This practical work directly addresses objectives P1 and P2, it also helps to reinforce the conceptual aspects of objectives C1, C4, C6, C7 and C8.

Assignments require the development of computer software which satisfies a particular set of visual requirements, this aims to reinforce and test students' grasp of objectives C8, P1 and P2.

Newsgroups are used to facilitate discussion between students and when necessary the topic coordinator. Students are encouraged to ask questions and supply answers to or discussion of other students' questions. The discussion helping to target objectives A1, A2, C1 and C8.

Assignments: 40% - Examination (3 hours): 60%

Assignments will require the development of OpenGL graphics applications which directly test objectives C8, P1 and P2, but give a significant indication of the understanding of more conceptual aspects of the unit (C1, C4, C5 and C6 especially).

The closed book examination will test all conceptual aspects of the unit (objectives C1-C8) and to some extent objectives A1 and A2.

The unit requires 12 hours per week study time including attending lectures, tutorials/workshops and private study.

On campus: 2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of tutorials/workshops per week.

Off-campus Distributed Learning: 12 hours private study and communicating with the lecturer and fellow students through email, newsgroups and web pages. Tutorial and workshop exercises are available to off-campus students from the unit web pages. No residential component is required.

The lecture theatre requires normal datashow projection from a OpenGL graphics capable laptop or PC. One 2 hour lecture per week.

The tutorial session is combined with the workshop/laboratory session

Requires a PC laboratory with OpenGL loaded and a suitable C or C++ compiler, for example Borland C++, Microsoft Visual C++ or Unix/Linux equivalents. Any reasonable PC graphics card with 32 Mb (or better) of graphics memory is satisfactory

Approximately 0.75 EAS (Effective Academic Staff) for one semester including marking at each location

• Software Title:
• Vendor:
• Version:
• OS: MS Windows XP ( ) and/or LINUX ( )
• License Details: (A valid software license certificate/s or Vendor permission must be available upon request if the software is to be installed for teaching)
• Are we currently licensed: Yes ( ) or No ( ) (If unsure, please check with your local IT support )
• If (Yes), who is the contact person for this software?:
• If (No), will the software license be arranged by: Staff member requesting the software ( ) or Technical Services* ( ) ? *If the latter is selected, please discuss your requirement/s with myself ASAP, prior to finalising your request, as there could be financial or resourcing implications.
• Is the software to be installed and accessed from a: Client/Workstation ( ), or Server ( ) ?
• Type of license: Site License ( ), Freeware ( ), FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) ( ), Shareware ( ), Lab based ( ) # of Licenses needed ____
• In what week will you commence using the software in class? Semester 1 (Week ___ ) and/or Semester 2 (Week ___ ):
• Nominated Staff For Acceptance Testing Software: (Name) (Phone) (Email)
• Additional Information: Special Requirements, Software Configuration/Installation Requirements, etc:

OpenGL and a suitable C or C++ compiler, for example Borland C++ , Microsoft Visual C++ or Unix/Linux equivalents.

NA - existing unit GCO3817, minor changes only, no change to current library requirements. Adequate copies of at least the recommended texts listed above.

Faculty of Information Technology

N/A

The unit is offered at Gippsland, Malaysia and South Africa.

Off-campus Learning: students are required to have access to a PC with a minimum specified configuration and to the Internet. This is a requirement for all off-campus students enrolled in the Bachelor of IT and Systems at Gippsland. There is no residential requirement.

FIT1007 Computer Programming 2