Introduction to Computer Graphics

Reviewed by Marietta Cameron, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Asheville on 2/1/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The author intentionally and most understandably designed this text to present material for a one semester undergraduate course. Thus the topic coverage is a subset of material typically presented in texts addressing computer graphics. I appreciate the implementations in Java, C, and JavaScript. Since the OpenSource 3D animation software Blender with its python interface is presented, maybe later editions of this text will include implementations in python. The hyperlinked terms and the demos embedded in the text’s online version enhance student learning. I respectfully disagree with the author’s decision to present foundational concepts with the much older OpenGL 1.1 and glut when he could do the same with OpenGL 4.5( or later) and freeglut. I also think that students would find chapter exercises helpful.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

This book's content is accurate with a few typos.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

As I have already mentioned, I strongly suggest the author drop all references to OpenGL 1.1 except in a section on the history of OpenGL. I agree that geometric modeling, transformations, color, lighting, textures, animation are fundamental but students (and industry) seem to ignore academics who present any ideas with what they (students and industry experts) perceive as outdated technologies.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is as clear as its "commercially available" counterparts.

Consistency rating: 4

The text is mostly consistent in terms of terminology and framework. A minor complaint is the occasional tense switch between first person singular and first person plural.

Modularity rating: 4

The text is written with an approach in mind....the topics can be rearranged with moderate effort.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization is understandable, logical, and clear.

Interface rating: 3

It would be helpful if all figures and demos were numbered and labeled. Maybe later editions could include interactive exercises that would assess student understanding.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

A few typos but nothing glaring.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

This text avoids cultural references. Maybe it could offer more references to graphical software, games, animations, and special interest groups such as ACM SIGGRAPH, SIGCHI, and IGDA (International Game Developers Association).

Comments

I would include this text as a supplemental resource to for my students.

Reviewed by Jong Kwan Lee, Associate Professor, Bowling Green State University on 2/1/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The contents of the book cover many topics in computer graphics that should be enough for an introductory level computer graphics course.
However, some contents might need a little more explanation (e.g., Bezier curves) and I would like it to include a coverage in clipping algorithms.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The contents of the book seem very accurate. There are a variety of computer graphics topics covered, some more in details than others, with simple examples and interactive demos and these seem to be accurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The book primary covers the basics in computer graphics. While some contents are not the most up-to-date materials, they are very adequate for introductory level computer graphics courses. I would personally use a different platform than Java in a computer graphics course, but the contents can be adapted to others.

Clarity rating: 4

Most of the contents are clear and adequate for a computer graphics textbook. However, there are a couple of topics that I would have like it to cover more in depth so that it might be easier for students to understand the topics.

Consistency rating: 5

The author presented the contents very consistently. The same approach is used to explain various computer graphics topics.

Modularity rating: 5

The took is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections. For example, I would cover some subsections from different chapters with other subsections and the book contents seem to be modular to do so.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

In general, I like the organization so that the contents are introduced in a logical way. However, there were a couple of sub-topics that could be combined with other sub-topics if I were to teach a computer graphics course with the book.

Interface rating: 5

There was no interface issue I could find. Links and demos that I checked all work properly.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammar mistake was found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I don't think this question is related to the contents of the book. But the book had no issue for the point.

Comments

The book covers both 2D and 3D computer graphics topics with examples and demos. It should be a good textbook for an introductory level computer graphics book.

Reviewed by Brian Barsky, Professor of Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley on 2/1/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 1 see less

This book is a guide for how write graphics programs using OpenGL and WebGL. It does not provide a an explanation of the concepts, methods, mathematics, physics algorithms, science, psychology, etc., etc., that one would find in a standard graphics text book, such as the ones by Foley et al., Shirley, Hearn & Baker, etc., etc.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Seems fine

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

That is fine

Clarity rating: 5

That is fine.

Consistency rating: 5

That is fine.

Modularity rating: 5

That is fine.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

That is fine.

Interface rating: 5

Seemed fine.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Fine

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

no problems (and not a relevant question)

Comments

I would like to reiterate my overarching concern that this book is a guide for how write graphics programs using OpenGL and WebGL and does not provide a an explanation of the concepts, methods, mathematics, physics algorithms, science, psychology, etc., etc., that one would find in a standard graphics text book, such as the ones by Foley et al., Shirley, Hearn & Baker, etc., etc. As such, it is reminiscent of the Open GL Programming Guide by Mason Woo, Jackie Neider, Tom Davis, and Dave Shreiner. This would be a useful adjunct to a real computer graphics text book, such as the ones by Foley et al., Hearn & Baker, or Shirley but would not provide a suitable replacement for a real computer graphics textbook like that.