A framework for dynamic visual applications

Abstract

The Miige system is an object-oriented IYamework for constructing interactive visual applications. It takes a model-based approach to application development by providing a representation system for graphics, interaction, and time-based dynamics. This paper will provide a brief overview of the architecture, examples of its use, and a comparison to alternative approaches. IntroductionThe goal of this work is to create a foundation for animated interactive 3D graphics that will reduce the time and expertise required to produce visual applications. Our hypothesis is that a modelbased approach to application development provides significant advantages over more conventional procedural programming techniques.To test this hypothesis, we have developed a foundation for interactive 3D graphics that supports this paradigm. It combines elements of object-oriented programming and frame-base knowledge representation to provide the functionality of window systems, graphics systems and anlmation systems. Modeling MethodologyThe modeling process begins by describing elements of an application domain in terms of the primitive elements of the representation system. These new classes of objects are domain-specific primitives that map their domain attributes onto graphical attributes. They are then used to create models in the desired domain. As the domain attributes change through the evaluation or simulation of the model, the effects propagate down to the low-level graphical attributes. The resulting structure is then interpreted to produce the desired visual presentation.In Mirage, modeling is accomplished through the use of a representation system. The purpose of the representation system is to provide a framework for describing the elements and behavior of a Authors' eutdrcas 3509 West Balcones &n&r Drive, Austin, TX 78759. mtdtor@mcc.mm.(512) 338-3620. nong@mcc.com (512) 338-3344

The Simple Virtual Environment Library: An Extensible Framework for Building VE Applications

“…These toolkits include Inventor (Strauss, 1993), Performer (Rohlf & Helman, 1994), Mirage (Tarlton & Tarlton, 1992), and Java3D (Sowizral et al, 1998). They provide a collection of object types that represent graphical shapes, lights, and groupings, which the application can create instances of and include in a scene graph.…”