kansy@gmdzi.UUCP (Klaus Kansy) (03/05/90)
Currently, the definition of the so-called "2nd generation" graphics
standards is initiated. In this context, it is discussed in what extent
such standards should obey or reflect object-oriented philosophy.
Current standards, i.e., GKS, PHIGS, are somtimes rated poor or even
useless as they reflect old fashioned concepts rather than modern
programming praxis.
I don't want to discuss the validity of such statements. As
international standardization takes some years to finish, an accepted
standard always has a certain age. For example, conceptual work on GKS
and PHIGS was finished somewhere 5 (PHIGS) to 10 years (GKS) ago and the
art of reading the future is a difficult one.
However, at this moment activities are inaugurated to revise the
existing graphics standards and the chance exists to put all the
concepts into the next generation graphics standards which will be
important in the midst of the 90ths.
Object-orientation seems to be such an important concept which should
not be missed by the next generation graphics standards. Interactive
graphics lends itself to object-orientation in an intuitive way;
Sutherland+s Sketchpad of 1963 is often mentioned as ancestor of OOP.
However, existing graphics standards apparently ignore the concepts of
OOP; the same is true for all widespread graphics systems as far as I
can see. Graphics capabilities of OOP environments are very elementary
and in no ways high level.
Question: Are there any specific reasons which prehibit the progression
of OOP in the graphics areas? IS OOP too much experimental or too much
time consuming to allow its use in high performance graphics systems?
Last year in Germany, I did organize a workshop where arguments for an
OOP based graphics standard have been collected and discussed. A
position paper was generated and distributed within the international
standardization committee for computer graphics (copies are availably
from me).
A EUROGRAPHICS workshop on "OOP and graphics" will take place at
Koenigswinter, West Germany, in June 90 where the effect of OOP on
graphics standards is on the list of topics. Position papers are still
welcome.
I would ask this group to participate in the discussion and to put in
all available knowledge to make the best of the next generation graphics
standards.
Klaus Kansy
--
Klaus Kansy
German National Research Laboratory for Computer Science (GMD)
P.O. Box 1240, D-5205 Sankt Augustin 1 (West Germany)
phone: (+49 2241) 14-2333 kansy@gmdzi.uucp