SEM540b. Graphics and HCI
Private Study Exercises.

Week One: Student Work. To be completed by Friday 21st November.

The information for the graphics part of the course is to be found in the html document stored as SEM307.
You should access this information and study the information relating to the six output functions for the GKS standard. Make detailed notes showing what each of these functions does and the underlying theory to produce this output. Note that these pages are only available to usernames within the School.
Alternatively you may search the web for other pages on graphics and extract useful information from them. The recent SIGGRAPH Journals will include some addresses which you may find useful.
There are also many textbooks in both the Computer Science library and the main university library which will provide additional information. When you have found a text you like, you should buy your own copy from the bookshop. Two which I consider better than average are:
Mathematical Elements for Computer Graphics. Rodgers and Adams. 2nd edition.
Introduction to Computer Graphics. Foley et al (about six authors) a student text, so it’s a lot cheaper than the main textbook.

This week the written report should give an account of the six GKS Output functions and the methods used to produce a diagram such as the chad shown below. This work should not be handed in, it’s for your benefit only.



S.Laflin. 13th November 1997.

Week Two: Student Work. To be completed by Thursday 27th November.

1. Consider the word-processor you currently use. It will have a default character-size and window size and these will allow a certain number of characters per line and lines per screen. Note what these are.

How do you use this software? Do you work exclusively on the screen? Do you produce the whole document on paper and then type it in? or do you use a mixture of these approaches? What tools (such as spell-checker) do you have and use to assist editing and during the editing process do you work on the screen or on paper printouts?

2. Experiment with your word processor by varying the size of font and size of window. Is there a set of parameters that you find more convenient than the system defaults? Does your particular software package make it easy save your choice as the new default?

3. Complete the form (one copy per group) and submit it by Thursday 27th November.



S.Laflin. 21st November 1997.

Week Three: Student Work. To be completed by Friday 5th December.

Experiment: Menu Design.

Assume that the following functions will form the basis for a menu-driven word-processing package and group them under appropriate headings. The heading you choose will become the menu-title with the functions appearing under each heading. You can choose as many or as few headings as you wish.

add footnote, add page break, bold text, change font, change word, character style, check spelling, clear, close file, copy, count words, cut, decrease point size, delete, find word, format paragraph, glossary, go back, go to, help, increase point size, insert graphic, insert index entry, italic text, lay out document, new, open copy of file, open file, open mail, page setup, paste, plain text, position on page, preferences, print, print preview, quit, renumber pages, repaginate, repeat edit, save, save as, see table of contents, send mail, show alternative document, table, underline, undo, view index, view page.

Now discuss your menu with the rest of your group. Show the others your headings and ask them to group the functions under your headings. Compare their groupings with yours.

You should find there are areas of great similarity and some places where functions are misplaced (there may even be some disagreement over the precise meaning of one or more of the functions). Discuss the similarities and discrepancies.

Questions:
Why do some functions always seem to be grouped together?
Why do some groups of functions always get catagorised correctly?
Why are some less easy to place under the “correct” heading? Is this important?

Count the number of items in your menus. What is the average?
What is the disadvantage of putting all the functions on the screen at once?
What is the problem with using lots of menu headings?
What is the problem of using very few menu headings?

Consider the following: I can group my functions into 3 menus with lots of functions in each one or I can put them in 8 menus with less under each heading. Which will be easier to use and why?

Would you prefer to use the mouse to select from your menus, or have a code of keypresses to make the same selections?

Which is quicker for the novice user? Is the same option quicker for the experienced user?

S.Laflin. 28th November 1997.

Week Four: Student Work. To be completed by Friday 12th December.

Use of Colour and Layout for Powerpoint.

This should be done as a group. A group has the advantage that you can discuss the various options and learn from the experience of others. Each group will be expected to prepare two or more screens showing good and bad examples of design and colourscheme.

Create a screen, whose text contains the title of this course
"SEM540b Computer Graphics and Human-Computer Interaction" and your names.
Explore the available styles for powerpoint presentations (Attach Template command) and try the effect of variations in the colour schemes. Choose one which you consider to be a good output screen and add to the text a brief explanation of why you consider this style and colour scheme desirable. Save the result on a disc and bring it to the final lecture to demonstrate your examples. Powerpoint is available in the PC lab and also on the Aston Webb clusters. You should be able to use these in the evenings. Do not use the Windows95 version of Powerpoint because it will not be possible to run this in Lecture Room 7.

S.Laflin. 5th December 1997.