WPI Computer Science Department

Computer Science Department
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CS 4731 Computer Graphics, C Term 2011


Lectures: FL-320, MTRF, 3pm - 3.50am

Teaching Assistants: Jia Wang (wangjia@cs) and Dazhi Zhang (jasonzhang@wpi.edu)
Student Assistant: Thomas Liu (SA) (kangchao@wpi)

Instructor: Prof. Emmanuel Agu, FL-139, 508-831-5568, emmanuel@cs.wpi.edu
Office Hours: Fridays 1.30 - 2.00PM, Mondays: 4PM - 5PM; Others by appointment

Required Text: Computer Graphics using OpenGL (Third edition) by F.S. Hill Jr. and S Kelley, Prentice-Hall

Supplemental texts (Optional):

Facilities: You should do your assignments in C/C++ but may choose to develop your code on either Unix or Windows. Note that compiled graphics code tends to be large and may consume more than one megabyte of disk space. Very important: No matter what platform you write your code on, the final executable must run on the WPI CCC Unix machines with clear instructions in your documentation on how to run it. Your submitted code will be compiled, tested and graded on the machine ccc.wpi.edu. Make sure your code runs well on that machine before submitting it. Points will be deducted if your codes works in any other environment (e.g. Mac or Windows) but you do not check that your code works on ccc.wpi.edu.

Class Websites: The class website is at http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~emmanuel/courses/cs4731/C11/. A myWPI class website has also been set up. Please post your questions on the discussion board to avoid excessive emails and so that everyone can benefit from answers given. You may send email to me if you have questions on matters that concern only you.

Software Utilities: Your programs will be written in OpenGL. OpenGL is installed on the CCC machines. For project 3, you will be provided a simplified interface to OpenGL, called MiniGL. You will get miniGL software later in the course.

Grade Policy: 50% exams (2 exams), 50% assignments (4 projects)

Notes:

  1. Reading is mandatory, working ahead is encouraged.
  2. Exams shall be based on lectures, readings and a bit of project knowledge, so class attendance is strongly encouraged.
  3. Working and discussions in pairs is okay. However, each student must turn in different and unique projects.
  4. Cheating is strictly forbidden
  5. Cheating (a.k.a., academic dishonesty), defined as taking credit for work you did not do or knowledge you do not possess, is strictly forbidden. First offenders will receive a zero grade for the assignment or exam in question and an academic dishonesty report will be filed with the Office of Student Affairs. Repeat offenders will receive an F for the course and the case will be brought before the campus hearing board (see Student Handbook).
  6. All assignments should be submitted using the turnin facility (For more info on turnin, see http://www.cs.wpi.edu/Help/turnin.html). Both your executable and source code must be turned in. Your documentation MUST include the structure of your project, what each file contains and instructions for compiling and running the program. Typically, a well-organized README ASCII text file is sufficient. Insufficient documentation will result in a loss of points. Data files should include a comment line at the start giving your name, the assignment for which it is intended, and the most recent date in which the file was changed. Please do NOT turn in hardcopies!! Your README file should be ASCII text so that the TAs can open them on the same machine they will do the grading. Do NOT send in documentation in Microsoft word or Apple MAC files.

Projects: There will be four projects (1 project in 2D and interaction, 2 projects in 3D, and 1 project programming shaders). You will model your scene using basic shapes. An approximation would be fine - I would not expect you to create a state-of-the-art scene - but it should be recognizable. You can choose a fixed configuration of components though those of you planning to carry out research or further projects in graphics might want to attempt some greater level of detail. You should keep the level of detail and complexity in your scene low until you get the basic functionality down, and then use your imagination to make it as interesting as you wish.

Late assignments will be penalized 15 percent per day. Assignments will NOT be accepted once it is late by 4 days or more.

Schedule: 

Week 1 (Jan 13 - 14)
   Topics: overview, graphics intro, basic HW/SW, OpenGL/GLUT intro, 
   Reading: Ch 1 - 2, 3.1 - 3.3 
   Project 0  Not to be submitted

Week 2 (Jan 17 - 21)
   Topics: points, scalars, vectors, 2D systems, window-to-viewport mapping, clipping, Fractals, 
   Reading: Appendix 4, 4.1-4.4 
   Project 1  Due: Thursday, January 27, 11.59PM 

Week 3 (Jan 24 - 28)
   Topics: 3D Transformations, 3D modeling, and coordinate systems
   Reading: Ch 5, 6.1, 6.2
   Project 2  Due: Friday, February 4, 11.59PM

Week 4 (Jan 31 - Feb 4)
   Topics: The synthetic camera, viewing and projection
   Reading: ch 7

Week 5 (Feb 7 - 11)
   Topics: Illumination and shading
   Reading: 8.1-8.3
   Midterm Exam: Thurs Feb 10, 2011 (Tentative)

Week 6 (Feb 14 - 18)
   Topics: Texturing, Hidden Surface Removal
   Reading: ch 8.4 - 8.5
   Project 3  Due: Thursday, February 17, 11.59PM

Week 7 (Feb 21 - 25)
   Topics: Introduction to shaders, Raster graphics
   Reading: Section 8.7, Ch 9 
   Project 4  Due: Thursday, Feb 24, 11.59PM

Week 8 (Feb 28 - Mar 4)
   Topics:  curves, Advances in graphics
   Reading: ch 10
   Final Exam: Mar 4, 2011 (Tentative)
Class Slides
Old Exams



Schedule for office hours

Note: All TA office hours will be held in Fuller Labs room A22 except for office hours for project 4. Between 2/18 and 2/24, TA office hours (for project 4) will hold in Higgins lab room 230

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1:00 - 2PM Jason Thomas
2:00 - 3:00PM Jason Thomas
3:00 - 4:00PM Jason
4:00 - 5:00PM Thomas Jason
5:00 - 6:00PM Thomas Jason
6:00 - 7:00PM Jia Jia Jason
7:00 - 8:00PM Jia Jia Thomas Jason
8:00 - 9:00PM Jia Jia Thomas Jason
9:00 - 10:00PM Jia Thomas
10:00 - 11PM Jia Thomas
11:00 - 12AM Thomas



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