The writer defines graphics-oriented data types and operators as the basis for a graphics-oriented programming language. Most of these data types are not available in today's languages. They are usually defined as structures or records composed of some other basic types. These include points, rectangles, transformations, etc. Some operators, such as vector addition, are defined to work with them.The design and implementation of an interpreter to test some of these graphics data types and operators are discussed.The writer also examines some of the tools needed in a graphics programming environment.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 42).

Thesis (Ph. D., Computer Science)--University of Idaho, May 2008. / Major professor: Jim Alves-Foss. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-115). Also available online (PDF file) by subscription or by purchasing the individual file.

Report (M.I.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-105). Also available via the Internet.

As the number of information system users increases, we are witnessing a related increase in the complexity and the diversity of their applications. The increasing functional complexity amplifies the degree of functional and technical understanding required of the user to make productive use of the application tools. Emerging technologies, increased and varied user interests and radical changes in the nature of applications give rise to the opportunity and necessity to re-examine the proper apportionment of cognitive responsibilities in human-system interaction. We present a framework for the examination of the allocation of cognitive responsibilities in information systems. These cognitive tasks involve skills associated with the models and tools that are provided by information systems and the domain knowledge and problem knowledge that are associated with the user. The term cognitor is introduced to refer to a cognitive capacity for assuming such responsibilities. These capacities are resident in the human user and they are now feasible in information system architectures. Illustrations are given of how this framework can be used in understanding and assessing the apportionment of responsibilities. Implications of shifting and redistributing cognitive task from the system-user environment to the system environment are discussed. Metrics are provided to assess the degree of change under alternative architectures. An architecture for the design of alternative responsibility allocations, named Reapportionment of Cognitive Activities, (RCA), is presented. The architecture describes knowledge and responsibilities associated with facilitating dynamic allocation of cognitive responsibilities. Knowledge bases are used to support and describe alternative apportionments. RCA illustrates how knowledge representations, search techniques and dialogue management can be combined to accommodate multiple cooperating cognitors, each assuming unique roles, in an effort to share the responsibilities associated with the use of an information system. A design process for responsibility allocation is outlined. Examples of alternative responsibility allocation feasible within this architecture are provided. Cases implementing the architecture are described. We advocate treating the allocation of cognitive responsibilities as a design variable and illustrate through the architecture and the cases the elements necessary in reapportioning these responsibilities in information systems dialogues.

The main objectives of this dissertation are the following. The first objective is concerned with the stabilization of large-scale systems by a decentralized control. The fundamental idea behind this type of control is the stabilization of the isolated subsystems of a large-scale system in such a way that the global stability requirement is also satisfied. For this purpose, a new stability criterion is introduced to identify a class of interconnected systems that can be stabilized by local state feedback. In addition to this, two specific classes of interconnections are presented for which the overall system stability can be ensured by a decentralized approach. A new constructive procedure for the design of decentralized controllers for the identified classes of large-scale systems is discussed. The principal advantages of this design procedure are that it requires a minimal amount of computation and is a systematic procedure eliminating the trial and error arguments as in the earlier methods. The second objective of the dissertation is to investigate the problem of the stabilization of a class of large-scale systems which are composed of identical subsystems and identical interconnections. For this class of systems, certain significant theorems, concerning the qualitative properties are introduced. Following the guidelines set forth by the above theorems, a few different schemes for the decentralized and multilevel control of the aforementioned class of large-scale interconnected systems are presented. The third objective concerns the development of a few different schemes for the design of an asymptotic state estimator for large-scale systems described as interconnections of several low-order subsystems. The most attractive feature of the present schemes is that the majority of the necessary computations are performed at the subsystem level only, thereby leading to a simple and practicable estimator design. Finally, all the above results are illustrated by numerical examples. Further, a comparison study is conducted to show the advantages of the methods and the results in this dissertation in comparison with some results available in the literature.

The increasing complexity of decision situations has required organizations to integrate more types of expertise and consider more criteria for effective group decision making. Researchers have begun to examine how computer based support in the form of a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) can enhance the process and outcomes of decision making groups. This dissertation investigated the impact of GDSS for strategic planning impact analysis. The GDSS was based on the Stakeholder Identification and Assumption Surfacing Model. A controlled laboratory experiment was used to compare the process and outcomes of 4-person groups which had GDSS support, comparable manual support, and no support. The experimental task was a policy statement requiring undergraduates to have a personal computer for admittance to a business college. Groups were asked to determine a list of the most critical stakeholders who would be impacted by the policy, and their assumptions regarding the policy statement. Measures were taken on decision outcomes (decision quality, decision time, and satisfaction with the outcomes) and decision process variables (quantity of unique alternatives, distribution of individual participation, and satisfaction with the process). Additionally, observational data was recorded through the use of videotape recordings of the sessions. The major findings of the study are: (1) Decision quality is enhanced when groups use a structured methodology; (2) Decision time was shortest in the unstructured groups, with GDSS groups finishing somewhat faster than manual structured groups; (3) Satisfaction with the outcomes was not different between structured and unstructured groups, however it was higher in the GDSS groups compared to the structured manual groups; (4) Quantity of unique alternatives was much higher in the groups using a structured methodology; (5) Distribution of individual participation was more equal in groups using a structured methodology; and (6) Satisfaction with the process was not different between structured and unstructured groups, however the GDSS groups were more satisfied than the structured manual groups.

Thesis (M.S.V.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1980. / Includes bibliographical references. / Three-dimensional, six degree of freedom input is explored in an interactive computer graphics environment. A particular device, the ROPAMS of Polhemus Navigational Sciences, Inc. is an accurate, unencumbering device based on electromagnetics. It is evaluated as a three-dimensional input device, and such input itself is evaluated for appropriateness and interactivity in a graphics environment. Emphasis is placed on human factors (pointing, body position) as a mode of interactivity. / by Christopher Schmandt. / Thesis (M.S.V.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1980.

by Wong Man-yee, Wong Yuen-tin. / Title also in Chinese. / Summary in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1980. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.V.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. VIDEOCASSETTE IN ROTCH VISUAL COLLECTIONS. / Bibliography: leaves 43-45. / This paper explores the notion of marrying two technologies: raster-scan computer animation and optical video discs. Animated sequences, generated at non real-time rates, then transfered to video disc, can be recalled under user control at real-time rates. Highly detailed animation may be combined with other media in interactive systems. Such systems inherently offer a greater degree of flexibility to the animator. The implementation of one such system is discussed in detail. / by Walter Bender. / M.S.V.S.