Introduction

This chapter defines some basic terminology and provides some historical background, as well as information sources related to computer graphics. The term computer graphics describes any use of computers to create and manipulate images. Graphics can be two- or three-dimensional; images can be completely synthetic or can be produced by manipulating photographs. A key part of using graphics libraries is dealing with a graphics application program interface (API). An API is a standard collection of functions to perform a set of related operations, and a graphics API is a set of functions that perform basic operations such as drawing images and 3D surfaces into windows on the screen. User interaction deals with the interface between input devices such as mice and tablets, the application, feedback to the user in imagery, and other sensory feedback. Historically, this area is associated with graphics largely because graphics researchers had some of the earliest access to the input/output devices that are now ubiquitous.