COSC5590 - Selected Topics: Graphics and Visualization
    Spring 2005

    W, 2:00 - 4:00PM, ST 209

    Professor: Dr. Scott A. King
    Office: Center for Instruction 327
    Phone: 825-5877
    Email: skingatsci.tamucc.edu
    Office hours: M 2:00 - 4:00
    T 1:00 - 2:00
    Course Web Page:   http://sci.tamucc.edu/~sking/Courses/Viz/

    Course Description

    This course will provide an introduction to visualizing data using computer graphics techniques. That is, using the human visual system to explore data. Primarily we will be concerned with visualizing scientific data. We will also learn about using the latest generation of programmable graphics hardware (GPUs) for both creating real-time graphics effects, and for outperforming the CPU on calculations. The course will be conduncted in a seminar format, with students reading and discussing research papers. Students will also implement a project, chosen by the student, that uses the techniques we discuss in class. Prerequisites: programming ability. This is a new topics course offered for the first time at TAMUCC. Students will learn visualization skills, graphics programming, graphics hardware, very useful programming skills, and have lots of fun. You will also get to use cutting-edge graphics workstations and a 3D visualization system. And in the end, you will have produced a system that you can show off to family and friends. The projects will most likely have a research aspect to them with the potential of publication. One project option is to work on a visualization contest for an international conference (to be held next year in Minneapolis) and submit the solution.

    Prerequisites

    1. Programming ability, desire, creativity.

    Text

    There is no required text for this course. The following books are highly recommended:

    • Envisioning information, Edward R. Tufte Graphics Press, 1990. On reserve in library.
    • Visual explanations : images and quantities, evidence and narrative, Edward R. Tufte, Graphics Press, 1997. On reserve in library.
    • The Visual display of quantitative information, Edward R. Tufte, Graphics Press, 1983. On reserve in library.
    • The Visualization Handbook, Edited by Charles D Hansen and Christopher R. Johnson, Elsevier, 2004.
    • How to lie with statistics, Darrell Huff, 1954, reissued by W.W. Norton & company, 1993

    Objectives

    Study current state-of-the-art techniques in visualization and implement such a method.

    Grading Plan

       Project               60%                      90%  - A
   Class Presentation    20%                      80%  - B
   Class Participation   20%                      70%  - C
                                                  60%  - D
                                                  50%  - F

    Project

    You will implement a visualization project as an individual or a small group. The project will be presented to the class at the end of the semester. Of the 60 points for the project, 45 will come from me, and the other 15 will come from your classmates.

    Topics List

    These are broad areas from The Visualization Handbook and are good choices, especially earlier on in the semester

    • Scalar Fields
      • Isosurface and Level-sets - Whitaker chapter in visualization handbook
      • Volume rendering
    • Vector Fields
    • Software and Frameworks
      • VTK
      • Insight
      • AVS - possibly
    • Perception
    • Viz in Weather and Climate

    Schedule

    • Week 1 - intro
    • Week 2 - Possible projects talks (various)
    • Week 3 - Possible Projects talks (various), Visualization overview (Scott)
    • Week 4 - Larry - Flow Visualization
    • Week 5 - Stan - Isosurface and level-sets
    • Week 6 - Jessica - VTK

    Conferences

    • M2Vis 2005 - March 1 submission, July 4, 2005, London.
    • Vis 2005 - Apr 10 abstracts, Apr 20 submission, October 23-28, 2005, Minneapolis.

    Contests

    • NSF and Science
    • Vis 2005, Not yet ready, possibly in march.

    Course Policies

    • Incompletes only with documented reasons in accordance with the uiversity policy.
    • Turn off cell phones and pagers before class.

    The A&M-CC Computer Science Program complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If you need disability accommodations in this class, please see me as soon as possible. Please have your accommodation letter from TAMU-CC Services for Students with Disabilities Office with you when you come see me. If you suspect that you may have a disability (physical impairment, learning disability, psychiatric disability, etc.), please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (located in Driftwood 101) at 825-5816. It is important that you contact them in a timely fashion as it may take several days to review requests and prepare accommodations.