George Mason University 
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS 451 Computer Graphics - Spring'2012

Computer Graphics - CS 451 - 001

Instructors: Professor Jim X. Chen
Class 4:30 pm - 7:10 pm; W; Innovation Hall 204

 

ACTIONS:

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

• 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:

  • 1) 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.
  • 2) 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.
  • 3) 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.
  • 4) Understand and use the current techniques, skills, and tools in GPU programming for advanced lighting calculations.

There are all together 100 points:

• Eight homework/programming assignments (20 points)
• Four random in-class quizzes and class participation (20 points)
• One midterm take-home exam (20 points)
• One final comprehensive exam (40 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, computers, etc.): should be turned off or on silence in class.

University Requirements

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

 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
GMU is an Honor Code university; please see the University Catalog for a full description of the code and the honor committee process. The principle of academic integrity is taken very seriously and violations are treated gravely. What does academic integrity mean in this course? Essentially this: when you are responsible for a task, you will perform that task. When you rely on someone else’s work in an aspect of the performance of that task, you will give full credit in the proper, accepted form. Another aspect of academic integrity is the free play of ideas. Vigorous discussion and debate are encouraged in this course, with the firm expectation that all aspects of the class will be conducted with civility and respect for differing ideas, perspectives, and traditions. When in doubt (of any kind) please ask for guidance and clarification.

GMU EMAIL ACCOUNTS
Students must activate their GMU email accounts to receive important University information, including messages related to this class. You should understand that your emailbox may be full, so check your email and make sure you have enough space daily.

OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the ODS. http://ods.gmu.edu

OTHER USEFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES:
WRITING CENTER: A114 Robinson Hall; (703) 993-1200; http://writingcenter.gmu.edu
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES “Ask a Librarian”
http://library.gmu.edu/mudge/IM/IMRef.html

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (CAPS): (703) 993-2380;
http://caps.gmu.edu

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
The University Catalog, http://catalog.gmu.edu, is the central resource for university policies affecting student, faculty, and staff conduct in university affairs.

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.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Will be announced in class and mostly due before next class. Homeworks are usually done with 2 hours of programming effort. Please submit your source code to through email. The midterm will be in-class in the middle of the semester. 

SYLLABUS: (tentative)

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

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. 

2012 by Prof. Jim X. Chen, Department of Computer Science, George mason University