Engineering 591 - Virtual Reality Programming

Fall 1999 Course Announcement

( Listed in CRISP as Eng 490 - 030 )

Objective:

At the end of this course, students will be able to write virtual reality programs using C programming and relevant programming libraries. They will be knowledgeable of, and able to implement, features such as action functions, object tasks, user interaction, lighting, viewpoint management, graphical user interfaces, sound, paths, and motion links. (Optional material may include multi-user networked VR, OpenGL programming, and/or device interface development.)

Pre-requisites:

Engineering 477, "Principles of Virtual Reality", and a knowledge of C programming, or consent of instructor. Students are expected to know how to create three-dimensional objects using tools such as AutoCAD, FormZ, 3DStudio, and Photoshop. Students are also expected to know basic VR concepts and terminology, such as scene graphs, texture mapping, Gouraud vs. Phong shading, and directed vs. point light sources. Students should be comfortable with all aspects of C programming, including functions, arrays, structures, and pointers.

Credit Hours:

4

Time & Place:

Monday & Tuesday, 4:30 - 6:30, in the Virtual Reality Lab in the Media Union (MU 1405). Approximately 50% of class time will be lecture format, and the remainder will be laboratory format.

Class Size:

Limited to 20

Text:

WorldToolKit Release 9 Reference Manual, available from Barnes & Noble in Pierpont Commons.

( Note: Excess copies will be returned to the publisher after the end of September. )

Coursepack:

WorldToolKit Release 9 Quick Reference Guide, available from Art & Architecture Copy Center in Pierpont Commons.

Web Site:

http://www.engin.umich.edu/class/eng591

Instructor:

John T. Bell
http://www.engin.umich.edu/labs/vrichel
3318 G.G. Brown Connector
JohnBell@umich.edu
763-4814

CRISP Info:

This course is listed in the CRISP system as Eng 490, Special Topics, Section 030