Computer Graphics I

4003-570-01 / 4005-761-01 (Fall 2007)

Homework #1: History of Computer Graphics


Date assigned: September 5, 2007
Date due: September 12, 2007

The goal of this homework is to provide you with some perspective on the recent history of Computer Graphics.

In class on Thursday, you were shown the video, “The Story of Computer Graphics”.  Sponsored by SIGGRAPH, ACM’s Special Interest Group in Graphics, this film premiered in the Summer of 1999.   This homework will allow you to explore what has happened in the field of Computer Graphics since this film was made.

 Each year, at the annual SIGGRAPH conference, animated shorts are judged and the best are shown in a presentation known as the “Electronic Theatre (ET)”.   Outstanding animations that do not make it into the ET, are shown in a smaller venue ("Animation Theatre") throughout the week of the conference.  Most of these shorts are then compiled and distributed on video and DVD as part of the SIGGRAPH Video Review series.    Our library holds copies of all of these collections. 

 For this homework, I will ask you to go to the library and view five of the more recent animations, summarize what you saw, and speculate as the advancement that the short illustrates or represents.   Note that the advancement can be technical, artistic, or scientific.  Also note, that your thoughts are indeed speculations, there are no right or wrong answers!

 For your convenience, below I list the call numbers for the Electronic Theatre collections for the past 6 years.  These DVDs are available from the Media Resource Center (in the basement of the library) and must be viewed on site (DVD players are available for your use). 

Issue Title Year Call Number
134 Siggraph 2000 Electronic Animation Theater Program Part 1 2000 VH 170 no.134 
135 Siggraph 2000 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2000 VH 170 no.135   
136 Siggraph 2000 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2000 VH 170 no.136 
138 Siggraph 2001 Electronic Theater Program Part 1 2001 VH 170 no. 138
139 Siggraph 2001 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2001 VH 170 no.139 
140 Siggraph 2001 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2001 VH 170 no. 140   
141 Siggraph 2002 Electronic Theater Program 2002 DVD 170 no. 141
142 Siggraph 2002 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2002 DVD 170 no. 142 
143 Siggraph 2002 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2002 DVD 170 no. 143 
144 Siggraph 2003 San Diego Electronic Theater Program 2003 DVD 170 no. 144
145 Siggraph 2003 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2003 DVD 170 no. 145 
146 Siggraph 2003 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2003 DVD 170 no. 146
147 Siggraph 2004 Electronic Theater Program 2004 DVD 170 no. 147
148 Siggraph 2004 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2004 DVD 170 no. 148
149 Siggraph 2004 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2004 DVD 170 no. 149 
150 Siggraph 2005 Electronic Theater Program 2005 DVD 170 no. 150
151 Siggraph 2005 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2005 DVD 170 no. 151
152 Siggraph 2005 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2005 DVD 170 no. 152
153 Siggraph 2006 Electronic Theater Program 2006 DVD 170 no. 153
154 Siggraph 2006 Animation Theater Program Part 1 2006 DVD 170 no. 154
155 Siggraph 2006 Animation Theater Program Part 2 2006 DVD 170 no. 155

After viewing, please submit the following for each of the 5 animated shorts you chose.

Submit your summaries electronically (in PDF, Word, or Plain text format) via mycourses.   There will be a drop box set up for this homework assignment. 

last updated 8/5/07