CS 6957 -- Special Topics: Perception for Graphics

3 credits
Spring, 2010: Tuesday, Thursday, 2:00pm-3:20pm, MEB 3147

Instructor:	William B. Thompson, 3446 MEB
	Office hours: by arrangement

Computer graphics produces images intended to be seen by people, yet relatively few practitioners in the field know much about the specifics of human vision. This course provides an introduction to human visual perception specifically intended for those studying or working in the fields of computer graphics and visualization, though it may also be of use to perceptual psychologists using computer graphics to generate experimental stimuli, directly investigating the perceptual effectiveness of some aspect of computer graphics, or interested in perceptual topics relevant to the information content of images but not included in most standard vision science references.

The class will differ from more traditional introductory courses on visual perception in several important ways:

The class will tie together image generation and the resulting perceptual phenomena, rather than having a focus only on the visual system itself.
Topics will be included that are seldom if ever part of introductory perception presentations, including perception of material properties, illumination, the perception of pictorial space, image statistics, perception and action, and spatial cognition.
Topics will be excluded which are not likely to be directly relevant to most computer graphics practitioners. In particular, the neuroscience of vision will be discussed only when it clearly aids in understanding issues of practical importance.

Students in the class will be provided with an advanced copy of Visual Perception from a Computer Graphics Perspective, to be published by AK Peters.

The class will consist of a mix of lectures, discussion, and student presentations on relevant articles from the computer graphics and perception research literatures.

No specific background or prerequisites are required to take the class, but some prior familiarity with computer graphics, visualization, computer vision, or perceptual psychology will be beneficial. No programming is involved.

Those taking the class should subscribe to the cs6957@eng.utah.edu mailing list, making sure to list your real name in addition to an email address. Only registered students will be allowed to subscribe.