George Mason University 
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS 451-001 Computer Graphics - Spring'2009

001 13984 W 4:30 p.m.-7:10 p.m. IN 134 Chen, J

Office hour: T 6:00pm-7:00pm; W: 3:00pm-4:00pm

 

Professor Jim X. Chen

ST2 Room 409

Course office hour: ST 2, Rm 409; T 6:00pm-7:00pm; W: 3:00pm-4:00pm or by appointment

Phone: (703) 993-1720
jimxchen (a) gmail (dot) com

Actions | Assignments|Syllabus
Description | Grading | TA | Groups | Texts | References

 

ACTIONS:

• Set up your working environment at home
• Suggestions and comments about this course

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DESCRIPTION:

CS 451 is a 3-credit course with prerequisite MATH 203, CS 310, and CS 367. It gives a general introduction to basic graphics principles, graphics software design, and OpenGL programming. The programming platform is in Java or C. The course will be taught in Java. The course will include lecturing through the course notes, discussing the homeworks and the project, and student presentation at the end.

I am assuming you know the prerequisite material, Java (or C) programming, vector analysis, and matrix calculations. After this class, you will be able to do 2D/3D object transformation, rendering, and animation. Emphasis will be on the programming and implementation.

Course Outcomes:

a) Apply trigonometry, geometry, vector analysis, and linear algebra to solve real world problems. Students can develop objects transformation and their own geometric transformation mechanism as the one implemented in the OpenGL system.
b) Analyze object positions and movements to define the computing methods and solutions for multiple objects’ movements, relations, and collision activities. Students can develop methods for objects moving and colliding in 3D space.
c) Collaborate with classmates in teams in achieving the course project. Students in teams are required to identify components to be implemented and efforts to accomplish the components.
d) Understand and use the current techniques, skills, and tools in GPU programming for advanced lighting calculations.

GRADING POLICY:

There are all together 100 points:

• Eight homework assignments (5 points)
• Four random in-class quizzes and class participation (5 points)
• One midterm exam (20 points)
• One project (20 points)
• One final exam (50 points)

Your overall course score, S, will be the sum of these points.

• A: S is at least 90 points
• B: S is at least 80 points
• C: S is at least 65 points
• D: S is at least 45 points
• F: S is less than 45 points

Each assignment may not be accepted if it is not turned in on time. Therefore, you should plan on working early. If you cannot finish your assignment, you come to meet me or my TA during the office hours.

If there is an accident or emergency and you let me know, I will consider it accordingly.

OTHER POLICIES:

 

General Course Policies

* Policies regarding attendance and participation: if you miss a quiz, you will not receive a grade for that quiz unless you have a serious reason, then you will receive a grade for the quiz according to your final grade.

* Policy regarding late assignments, make-up exams, and extra credit: no late assignments, make-up exams, and extra credit in general.

* Policy regarding incompletes: no incomplete in general.

* Policy on electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, etc): should be turned off. You can use a laptop in class if you want.

University Requirements

* Academic Honesty and Honor Code Statement: http://cs.gmu.edu/wiki/pmwiki.php/HonorCode/HomePage

* Disability Statement: If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.

 

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TEACHING ASSISTANT

 

GROUPS AND COLLABORATION:

You may form into study groups. You can meet with your study group and discuss all homework questions freely and frequently in your group. However, you must do your own assignments. In short, collaborate freely, acknowledge all help and sources, and do your own work.

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ASSIGNMENTS:

Will be announced in class and mostly due before next class. Please submit your source code to my TA through email. The midterm will be in-class in the middle of the semester. The project will be announced by early November, and is due by the end of November.

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SYLLABUS: (tentative)

Will mostly follow the notes posted accompanying the text book with minor additions/modifications.

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TEXTS :
 

1. Jim X. Chen and Chunyang Chen, Foundation of 3D Graphics Programming Using JOGL and Java3D, Second Edition, Springer Verlag. (Required)

2. Jim X. Chen, Guide to Graphics Software Tools, Second Edition, Springer Verlag. (Recommended. This is the accompany book in C.)

3. Mason Woo, Jackie Neider, and Tom Davis, OpenGL Programming Guide, Addison Wesley, latest version. (Recommended. This book is very popular on OpenGL programming in C.)

REFERENCES:

• CS 652 - Interactive Computer Graphics
• GMU Graphics Group
• GMU Graphics Research
• Donald Hearn and M. Pauline Baker, Computer Graphics, C version, 2nd edition, Printice-Hall, latest version. 
• Edward Angle, Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach with OpenGL, Addison Wesley.
• Cornel Pokorny, COMPUTER GRAPHICS: an Object-Oriented Approach to the Art and Science, Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Incorporated.
• James D. Foley, Andries van Dam, Steven K. Feiner, John F. Hughes, Computer Graphics:Principles and Practice, Addison-Wesley 2nd edition.
• Grigore C. Burdea and Philippe Coiffet, Virtual Reality Technology, Wiley-Interscience, 2nd edition.

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2008 by Prof. Jim X. Chen, Department of Computer Science, George mason University