“A building block approach to color graphics” by Flexer and Wiederhold

  • ©J. Robert Flexer and Gio Wiederhold

Conference:


Type:


Title:

    A building block approach to color graphics

Presenter(s)/Author(s):



Abstract:


    Graphics and imaging are important in scientific, academic and industrial environments. In the past graphics systems have been used with large computers and were only available to a minority of users. The relatively small and specialized use of graphics has inhibited sharing of software and prevented standardization necessary for widespread use. Dense semiconductor memory has recently become easily available in large quantities and makes high resolution graphics and imaging systems feasible. The concepts leading to the design of the present system come from the need to provide a large number of graphic and imaging functions, in a compact form, to a commonly used microprocessor bus. Three fundamental functions are implemented: a video frame digitizer, an image memory, and an output video generator. Video images can be digitized in one frame time with a precision of 1, 2 or 4 bits per pixel. The video generator can display the images in gray levels or in color. The software selectable system parameters include a variety of image formats, video output controls, digitization commands, addressing modes, vertical image offset, and lightpen controls. A novel contouring digitization mode is useful to reduce images obtained in gray scale to outline form. Such real-time preprocessing reduces memory and bandwidth requirements. Photographic illustrations demonstrate various operating modes.

References:


    1. Alan Kay: A Personal Computer for Children of All Ages, Proceedings of the 1972 ACM Conference, August 1972, Boston.
    2. Warren A. Teitelman: A Display Oriented Programmers Assistant, XEROX Palo Alto Research Center report CSC-77-03.
    3. H.S. McDonald, W.H. Nink, D.R. Welle: A Direct View CRT Console for Remote Computing, Digest of Technical Papers, 1967 International Solid State Circuits Conference, Vol. 10, pp. 68-69.
    4. G. J. Agin: An Experimental Vision System for Industrial Applications, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Industrial Robots, Soc. of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, Mich. 1975, pp. 135-148.
    5. Tom McWilliams: SCALD, Structured Computer-Aided Logic Design, Stanford University CSD report 78-665, May 1978.
    6. M.L. Dertouzos: Character Generation from Resistive Storage of Time Derivatives, Proceedings of the 1969 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 35, pp. 561-568.
    7. Ivan C. Sutherland: SKETCHPAD: A Man-Machine Graphical Communication System, MIT Lincoln Laboratory TR 296, May 1965.
    8. W.J. Sanders, G. Breitbard, D. Cummins, R.F. Flexer, K. Holtz, J. Miller, and Gio Wiederhold: An Advanced Computer for Medical Research, Proceedings of the 1967 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 31, pp. 497-509.
    9. Gio Wiederhold: Setting Up a General Purpose Data-Acquisition System, Proceedings of the IBM Symposium on Computers in Chemistry, IBM DPD 1967, pp. 249-264.
    10. C.M. Theiss: Computer Graphics Displays of Simulated Automobile Dynamics, Proceedings of the 1969 SJCC, AFIPS Vol. 34.
    11. Robert L. Beckermeyer: Interactive Graphics Consoles, Environment and Software, Proceedings of the 1970 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 37, pp. 315-323.
    12. C. Levinthal: Molecular Model Building by Computer, Scientific American, Vol. 214, 1966, pp. 42 ev.
    13. A.M. Tometsko: Computer Approaches to Protein Structure, Viewing Models of Proteins from the Inside, Computers and Biomedical Research, Vol. 5, No. 5, 1972, pp. 460-472.
    14. Ronald R. Resch: The Topological Design of Sculptural and Architectural Systems, Proceedings of the 1973 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 42, pp. 643-650.
    15. Mitch Model: Monitoring of Programming Systems, Stanford University CSD, Ph.D. Thesis.
    16. D.L. Vickers: The Sorcerers Apprentice: Head Mounted Display and Wand, Utah Univ. CSD report UTEC CSC 74-078, 1974.
    17. W.M. Newman and R.F. Sproull: Principles of Interactive Computer Graphics, McGraw-Hill 1973.
    18. R. Narasimhan: Syntax Directed Interpretation of Classes of Pictures, Comm. of the ACM, Vol. 9, March 1966, pp. 166-173.
    19. Ronald R. Morrison: Graphic Language Translations with a Language Independent Processor, Proc. 1967 FJCC, AFIPS Vol. 31, pp. 723-731
    20. Pierre J. Lebeux: Frame Selection Systems and Languages for Medical Applications, Univ. of Calif., San Francisco, Lab. for Medical Information Science Tech. Report 7, 1974.
    21. D. Norwood: Introduction of a User-Oriented Total Hospital System into a Community Hospital, Introduction and System Description, Proceedings of MediInfo 1974, IFIP, pp. 295-298.


ACM Digital Library Publication: