Integrated Graphic and Computer Modelling

Computer languages and computer graphics have become the primary modes of human-computer interaction. This book provides a basic introduction to "Real and Virtual Environment" computer modelling. Graphics models are used to illustrate both the way computer languages are processed and also used to create computer models of graphic displays. Computer languages have been bootstrapped from machine code, to high-level languages such as Java, to animation scripting languages. Integrating graphic and computer models takes this support for programming, design and simulation work, one step further, allowing interactive computer graphic displays to be used to construct computer models of both real and virtual environment systems. The Java language is used to implement basic algorithms for language translation, and to generate graphic displays. It is also used to simulate the behaviour of a computer system, to explore the way programming and design-simulation environments can be put together.

The area of Computer Graphics has evolved over time and its original role in communication, design, entertainment and art has broadened to include a wide spectrum of applications including education, computer games, films and videos, medical applications, geographic information systems and much else besides. There has long been a need for a comprehensive book that provides a coherent introduction to this fast-moving area, and Adrian Thomas's beautifully illustrated and well-written work does just that.

Full colour throughout, the book explores programming language developments from machine code to more natural language forms, and the basic display operations and commands needed to create effective computer graphic systems. As the visual presentation of real and virtual environments becomes more and more the norm in application systems, a clear understanding of the theory that underpins these techniques is required of all students and practitioners studying and working on large computer systems.

A particular example is provided showing how interactively building a graphic model of a system can be used to construct a matching computer model of the system capable of demonstrating its behavior. This illustrates a powerful new range of design and simulation tools that arise from integrating computer and graphic modeling schemes.

Containing detailed programming examples along with an exploration of alternative algorithms to illustrate design options when building computer systems, this book provides a unique introduction to the complexities of integrating graphic and computer modeling and will be welcomed by all those interested in the way computers can be programmed to create images and environments.