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Environment Evolution (Cont.)

• 3D graphics workstations (1986- now)

  • display: real-time, pseudo-realistic images of 3D scenes

  • object and command specification: 2D, 3D and nD input devices for point-and-click, widgets, direct manipulation

  • control over appearance: WYSIWYG (and WYSIAYG)

  • application control: multi-tasking, networked (client server) computation and window management (PEX terminals)

• Chips are key in graphics subsystems

  • TI TMS34020

  • Intel i80860

  • ASIC's

• Classical time-sharing is dead

  • PCs and Workstations merging in distributed heterogenous computer networks; 1:n --> n:1!

• New forms of computing (1990's -)

  • multimedia: text and graphics synchronized with sound, video

  • hypermedia: multimedia with links

  • "Digital Convergence": merging of digital television and distributed computing, consumer electronics: set-top computers (e.g., for Interactive TV, Video-On-Demand), "telecomputers"

  • The Information Superhighway/Infobahn

  • embedded computing (information appliances, PDA's)

  • ubiquitous computing

Overview of Computer Graphics - 08 MAY 95

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