A formal model of visualization in computer graphics systems (Q1188655)

After a presentation of the authors' view of previous computer graphics systems and an overview of correspondences (a generalization of mappings to include one-in-many relations) in the first two chapters, the book formally specifies the parts needed for a visualization system and combines them into a ``visualizing net'' - a more elaborate viewing pipeline. It then shows how to formalize some aspecs of well known systems (GKS and postScript), avoiding some of their ambiguities, and pointing out that in fact in conventional systems ``each output primitive has its own visualizing process''. The authors view computer graphics as being purely output oriented, and to image structuring beyond hierarchical picture parts is considered. The view taken seems a bit old fashioned but is still very valuable. In the remaining chapters, a prototype Graphical Nucleus ``pNucleus'' designed upon the previously motivated principles is proposed, and its implementation and its possibilities are discussed. (The actual implementation was done in a Unix environment using Franz Lisp.) The pNucleus clearly has the advantage of being formally based, more orthogonal than any of the widely used systems, and of being flexible and user extensible to a very large degree. But it is a basic kernel - considerable work has to be done to flesh it out to a practical level of richness (needed functionality including structuring, storing, input handling, workstation control). On the other hand must be feared that the many degrees of freedom the visualizing net offers over a more rigid viewing pipeline will stand in the way of a practical user. (But performance reasons might inhibit a practical use at the moment, anyway.) Due to its thorough theoretical foundation, this book is a very valuable input to the discussion of computer graphics standardization and formalization. It deals with a wide spectrum of aspects, from the formal grounds of an algebraic specification to those of the actual implementation. Although an ample reference is given to previous related works to enable the reader to check other sources, he should also be directed to some newer developments in the graphics standardization area that have not been taken into account (for example different functionality used by \(PHIGS+\), the currently discussed computer graphics reference model, GKS maintenance, and the new application programmers interface).