Advanced R and D topics on animation and scientific visualization

Since its beginning in the early thirties, animation has been an application in its own right. Nowadays animation provides a set of tools, or is the basic technology for several other applications of computer graphics and related areas. These include: Scientific Visualization: visual patterns showing relationships between data; as much of the data is time-dependent animation plays a role. Visual Simulation (CGI Systems): broadly used as real-time systems for training purposes in flight or traffic simulations. Animated objects like walking figures, etc. and other more realistic illusions of a reality taken from animation technology gain more and more importance. Visual Simulation (CGI Systems): broadly used as real-time systems for training purposes in flight or traffic simulations. Animated objects like walking figures, etc. and other more realistic illusions of a reality taken from animation technology gain more and more importance. Virtual Reality (coined by j. Laniert 1987): a new t erm for visual simulation focusing on user interaction through the use of helmet mounted displays for example and interaction devices, like data glove. Techniques are taken from either visual simulation systems or animation systems. Multimedia: after having completed the device-dependent early stages of development, developments such as DVI or CD-I, one has nowadays gained device-independence. Moreover, animation is in the process of becoming an integral part of multimedia. User interaction is crucial for this application. Model-based image coding and tele-presence have gained much attention because they promise an optimal coding and interchange of real images, based on techniques originally developed for animation systems. Animation principles are now a basic technology and research basis for many applications. Existing animation systems, which have been well established at a product level for purposes of communication design over the last ten years, do not fulfill the general requir e