COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: 
   cap4730 Computational Structures in Computer Graphics 

OVERVIEW: 
This is an advanced undergraduate course on
the concepts and principles underlying
interactive gaming and graphics environments.

The goal is to be able to build, not just use
such environments, inluding the lighting and modeling of geometry.
To make the concepts and principles concrete and
prepare students for the  workplace or graduate studies,
the course uses the industry-standards of OpenGL and C/C++.
In particular, students are expected to work with,
understand and modify OpenGL example programs.
Students will also benefit from refreshing their knowledge
of linear algebra and calculus to understand structures
rather than just examples.


PREREQUISITES:
Familiarity with programming using a high-level language;
familiarity with OpenGL is not assumed;
basic knowledge of algorithms, data structures and discrete math.
Understanding matrix operations, curves and surfaces.

TEXTBOOK: 
class notes 

OUTLINE OF COURSE TOPICS: 

Introduction & test      
OpenGL 
Curves
Interaction  
Test 1, Discussion

polyhedra + basic geometry
3D data structures 
basic 3D viewing, coordinates 
Modeling Hierarchy
Projection 
Test 2, Discussion  

Surfaces
Textures
Z-buffer & Smooth shading  
Graphics Pipeline 
(shape grammars, Contouring & Voxels)
Test 3, Discussion
fractals, particles

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADES: 
Three tests (50% of final grade) 
Three projects (50% of final grade)
Homework assignments in the early part of the course.

WORKLOAD: Students who take this course comment that the course
uses (and motivates) earlier CS and Math course work (see prerequisits)
and that the main work is during the first month.