CMP 290B -- Fall 2004 -- course overview

CMP 290B: Fall 2004
Course Overview

Textbooks

Visualization Handbook
Charles Hansen and Chris Johnson
ISBN: 0-12-387582-x

The Visualization Toolkit: An Object-Oriented Approach to 3D Graphics , 3rd edition
William Schroeder et al.
ISBN 1-930934-07-6

References

The Visualization Toolkit User's Guide, 2001
William Schroeder et al.

OpenGL: A Primer
Edward Angel

OpenGL Programming Guide, 3rd edition
Woo, Neider, and Davis

OpenGL Reference Manual, 3rd edition
Dave Shreiner, editor

Description

This course will focus on the major scientific visualization techniques and challenges. The class will be conducted in a lecture/seminar style environment where I will give lectures about key topics, and students will read and lead discussions on specific visualization topics. Course evaluation will involve 3 major parts: one or two programming assignments, paper presentation/discussions, and a final project. The goal of this course is to get you started on a research project and have the final project be the basis of a thesis and/or a paper publication. This is a very realistic goal based on previous experience with the course.

For the paper readings/discussions, try to read around 3 papers on the specific subject with an eye for the techniques, issues, challenges, and avenues for possible improvements. The format will a paper presentation (be sure to submit a powerpoint or pdf file of your presentation) followed by discussions -- possibly focussing on the strong and weak points, and areas for improvements. The readings/discussions should be fertile grounds for you to scout around for final project ideas.

The final project could be an enhancement of a technique, improvement in efficiency, a hybrid of complementary techniques, or a completely novel approach, etc. At the very least, it could be an in-depth survey of a sub-area similar to a Eurographics STAR (State of The Art Report).

I expect that some of the class projects will become publishable material with some additional work after the quarter is over. The main visualization conference -- IEEE Visualization -- has a submission deadline for papers typically around March 30 each year. So, this would be a perfect timing to get started.

Aside from this general format and requirements, I expect the course itself to be pretty fluid. I welcome your input and suggestions throughout the quarter if we need to spend more time on something, or even change directions altogether.

Prerequisite:

CMP 160 and CMP 161 -- computer graphics, visualization, OpenGL, GUI or equivalent.

Grading Policies:

The course will be evaluated using the following rough breakdown: assigned program (30%), paper presentation(s)/discussion (30%), and final project (40%). You need to pass all of the components in order to pass the course. There is no final exam.

THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS OR PROGRAMS. THERE WILL BE NO INCOMPLETES GIVEN IN THE CLASS.

General Policies:

All course work including homeworks, programs and exams are intended as individual effort and are graded as such. It is okay to discuss general approaches and algorithms with other students, but this should be done without writing, looking, or sharing code. Cheating or plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. Punishment will match severity of offense. You are responsible for protecting your homework solutions and programs from being copied by others. Refer to the official UCSC guidelines.