3D Graphics - Current Technologies

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3D Graphics - Current Technologies

• Open GL (Open Graphics Language)
• SGI Silicon Graphics
• Direct 3D
• Microsoft Direct X Technology
• Java3D
• Sun MicroSystems
• RDX (Realistic Display Mixer)
• Intel MMX Technologies

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Open GL

• Platform Independent 3D API
• Texture Mapping
• Z-Buffering
• Double Buffering
• Lighting Effects
• Smooth Shading
• Material Properties
• Alpha Blending
• Transformation matrices

Properties
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OpenGL
Toolkits

• GLUT (OpenGL Utility Toolkit)
• Window system independent API for binding OpenGL
  API. (No need to learn Win32API,MFC, Xlib or
  Motif)
• Very Simple to use .
• Reduces learning and code overhead for OpenGL
  applications.
• Features supported
• Multiple windows for OpenGL rendering.
• Callback driven event processing.
• An idle' routine and timers.
• Utility routines to generate various solid
  and wire frame objects.
• Support for bitmap and stroke fonts.
• Miscellaneous window management functions.

4
Direct X - DirectDraw

• Very Fast - DirectDraw bypasses GDI and directly
  accesses video memory on graphics card (via
  surface object)
• PRIMARYSURFACE - direct access to display memory
  area.
• OFFSCREENSURFACE - offscreen behind the scene
  drawing area

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Display Architecture in Win95
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Direct3D - Modes of Operation

• Direct3D Retained Mode
• Sophisticated Geometry Engine to create entire
  scene to be manipulated with high level API
  calls. - Functionality comes at performance cost
  (similar to OpenGL).
• Direct3D Immediate Mode
• A device independent way for accessing low-level
  hardware acceleration (however programmers must
  design their own geometry and lighting modules).
• Very Fast! But difficult to program!

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Direct3D

• Advantages
• Faster than OpenGL (Direct hardware accelaration)
• Used in Games
• Disadvantages
• Platform Dependent (PC Windows platform)
• Very difficult use (steep learning curve) with
  large code overhead incomparison to OpenGL.

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Java3D API

• Provides a Java 3D API that sits on top of
  OpenGL.
• Advantages
• Platform Independent
• Ability to distribute over the web (3D Applets)
• Small Code size (similar to OpenGL overhead)
• Also-Magician is a front-end to OpenGL
• Java Language-NO Pointers-gtNo Headaches!!!!!!
• Disadvantages
• Slow (Java Byte code is interpreted by the Java
  Virtual Machine, which then talks to Lower Level
  OpenGLLayer

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Comparison
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References

• OPENGLProgramming for Windows 95/NT
• DIRECTX, RDX, RSX, MMX TECHNOLOGY (High perf API,
  Rohan Coelho)
• High PerformaceWindows Graphics Programing
• www.mesa3d.org
• http//www.microsoft.com.../directx/dxm/help/da/fr
  ameset/cpp_right.htm
• http//cc.usu.edu/sljwm/index.html
• http//cc.usu.edu/sljwm/OpenGL.html
• http//trant.sgi.com/opengl/toolkits/glut-3.5/prog
  s/mui/mui.html
• http//www.rezio.com/d3d/
• http//www.cmlab.csie.ntu.edu.tw/robin/JavaGL/
• htttp//java.sun.com
• http//www.opengl.org/
• http//trant.sgi.com/opengl/toolkits/glut-3.5/prog
  s/progs.html
• http//java3d.sdsc.edu/
• http//www.jars.com
• http//www.wksoftware.com/publications/mcd_icd.htm
  l
• http//reality.sgi.com/mjk_asd/glut3/glut3.html
• http//reality.sgi.com/mjk_asd/glut3/glut3.html

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INSTALLATION FOR Windows DRIVERS required for
Demos OpenGL SGI OpenGL drivers for
Windows95 http//
www.opengl.org/Downloads/DevDownloads.html ---ftp
//ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/opengl95.exe
---http//www.berkelium.com/OpenGL/sgi-opengl.ht
ml MESA OpenGL Implementation
http//www.mesa3d.org/download.html GLU
T You can compile and re-build libraries
given original GLUT source code, or just download
necessary binaris, DLLS etc avaliable at the
following links Reccommended to download
complete GLUT src and compile libraries (VC
recommeded)..includes very nice OpenGL demos,
like Ideas (SGI) Atlantis Chess
Manymore.... http//www.opengl.org/Documentation
/GLUT.html //Good links http//reality.sgi.
com/mjk_asd/glut3/glut3.html
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DirectX RDX This links to
Intels Download area for RDX SDK samples and
includes binary donwload for DirectX
3a. http//developer.intel.com/ial/rdx/download.h
tm http//developer.intel.com/ial/rdx/demos.htm
DirectX6 Microsoft has DirectX V6 out
but is only available via purchasing its CD from
microsoft (approx 12.50 inc S/H). http//www.mic
rosoft.com/directx/resources/dx61sdk.htm (SDK
includes sample code demos) Java3D
JDK1.2 Import Note to set-up
classpaths correclty for JDK1.2
installation. http//java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.
2/ //includes demo prgs for Java 2d
java 3D http//java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D
/ All These SDK/Driver installations were
necessary to show the demos during the
presentation.