Graphics Odds and Ends

Learning Objectives Learn how to do graphics animations Talk about other advanced techniques –Fog –Background –Display Lists –Level of detail Discuss the relation between virtual reality and the complexity of the natural world.

Animation Draw into the back buffer, then call glutSwapBuffers(). Set the glutIdleFunction to run the display function whenever the program is not doing something else.

Advanced Techniques Many other functions are provided by OpenGL that may be useful, but are too specialized or complex to cover here: –Fog, display lists, billboards Others are so useful that they are nearly always provided by VR software, but not explicitly part of OpenGL –Background image, level of detail, animated textures Others things can be done, but are complex –Shadows, depth of focus

Complexity Consider what it is like to be in a natural environment that you have some emotional connect with, such as a garden, a forest, or on a boat on the water. In particular, imagine how the environment interacts with your emotions (the emotion might be a sense of peace, trepidation, fear, tranquility, etc.). Now think about what it would take to build a virtual environment that would provide a sense of realism that would provoke the same emotion. Finally, consider books and movies that have other techniques to evoke the same emotion. Now, in 250 words or less, explain the benefits and limitations of virtual environments in creating a sense of presence in natural environments.