Geometric algebra (a Clifford Algebra) has been applied to different branches of physics for a long time but is now being adopted by the computer graphics community and is providing exciting new ways of solving 3D geometric problems. The author tackles this complex subject with inimitable style, and provides an accessible and very readable introduction. The book is filled with lots of clear examples and is very well illustrated. Introductory chapters look at algebraic axioms, vector algebra and geometric conventions and the book closes with a chapter on how the algebra is applied to computer graphics.
Until recently, almost all of the interactions between objects in virtual 3D worlds have been based on calculations performed using linear algebra. Linear algebra relies heavily on coordinates, however, which can make many geometric programming tasks very specific and complex-often a lot of effort is required to bring about even modest performance enhancements. Although linear algebra is an efficient way to specify low-level computations, it is not a suitable high-level language for geometric programming. Geometric Algebra for Computer Science presents a compelling alternative to the limitations of linear algebra. Geometric algebra, or GA, is a compact, time-effective, and performance-enhancing way to represent the geometry of 3D objects in computer programs. In this book you will find an introduction to GA that will give you a strong grasp of its relationship to linear algebra and its significance for your work. You will learn how to use GA to represent objects and perform geometric operations on them. And you will begin mastering proven techniques for making GA an integral part of your applications in a way that simplifies your code without slowing it down. * The first book on Geometric Algebra for programmers in computer graphics and entertainment computing * Written by leaders in the field providing essential information on this new technique for 3D graphics * This full colour book includes a website with GAViewer, a program to experiment with GA
This is a concise and informal introductory book on the mathematical concepts that underpin computer graphics. The author, John Vince, makes the concepts easy to understand, enabling non-experts to come to terms with computer animation work. The book complements the author's other works and is written in the same accessible and easy-to-read style. It is also a useful reference book for programmers working in the field of computer graphics, virtual reality, computer animation, as well as students on digital media courses, and even mathematics courses.
Geometric algebra is still treated as an obscure branch of algebra and most books have been written by competent mathematicians in a very abstract style. This restricts the readership of such books especially by programmers working in computer graphics, who simply want guidance on algorithm design. Geometric algebra provides a unified algebraic system for solving a wide variety of geometric problems. John Vince reveals the beauty of this algebraic framework and communicates to the reader new and unusual mathematical concepts using colour illustrations, tabulations, and easy-to-follow algebraic proofs. The book includes many worked examples to show how the algebra works in practice and is essential reading for anyone involved in designing 3D geometric algorithms.
Understanding Geometric Algebra: Hamilton, Grassmann, and Clifford for Computer Vision and Graphics introduces geometric algebra with an emphasis on the background mathematics of Hamilton, Grassmann, and Clifford. It shows how to describe and compute geometry for 3D modeling applications in computer graphics and computer vision.Unlike similar texts
The author defines “Geometric Algebra Computing” as the geometrically intuitive development of algorithms using geometric algebra with a focus on their efficient implementation, and the goal of this book is to lay the foundations for the widespread use of geometric algebra as a powerful, intuitive mathematical language for engineering applications in academia and industry. The related technology is driven by the invention of conformal geometric algebra as a 5D extension of the 4D projective geometric algebra and by the recent progress in parallel processing, and with the specific conformal geometric algebra there is a growing community in recent years applying geometric algebra to applications in computer vision, computer graphics, and robotics. This book is organized into three parts: in Part I the author focuses on the mathematical foundations; in Part II he explains the interactive handling of geometric algebra; and in Part III he deals with computing technology for high-performance implementations based on geometric algebra as a domain-specific language in standard programming languages such as C++ and OpenCL. The book is written in a tutorial style and readers should gain experience with the associated freely available software packages and applications. The book is suitable for students, engineers, and researchers in computer science, computational engineering, and mathematics.
Do you spend too much time creating the building blocks of your graphics applications or finding and correcting errors? Geometric Tools for Computer Graphics is an extensive, conveniently organized collection of proven solutions to fundamental problems that you'd rather not solve over and over again, including building primitives, distance calculation, approximation, containment, decomposition, intersection determination, separation, and more. If you have a mathematics degree, this book will save you time and trouble. If you don't, it will help you achieve things you may feel are out of your reach. Inside, each problem is clearly stated and diagrammed, and the fully detailed solutions are presented in easy-to-understand pseudocode. You also get the mathematics and geometry background needed to make optimal use of the solutions, as well as an abundance of reference material contained in a series of appendices. Features - Filled with robust, thoroughly tested solutions that will save you time and help you avoid costly errors. - Covers problems relevant for both 2D and 3D graphics programming. - Presents each problem and solution in stand-alone form allowing you the option of reading only those entries that matter to you. - Provides the math and geometry background you need to understand the solutions and put them to work. - Clearly diagrams each problem and presents solutions in easy-to-understand pseudocode. - Resources associated with the book are available at the companion Web site www.mkp.com/gtcg.* Filled with robust, thoroughly tested solutions that will save you time and help you avoid costly errors.* Covers problems relevant for both 2D and 3D graphics programming.* Presents each problem and solution in stand-alone form allowing you the option of reading only those entries that matter to you.* Provides the math and geometry background you need to understand the solutions and put them to work.* Clearly diagrams each problem and presents solutions in easy-to-understand pseudocode.* Resources associated with the book are available at the companion Web site www.mkp.com/gtcg.
Stressing the interplay between theory and its practice, this text presents the construction of linear models that satisfy geometric postulate systems and develops geometric topics in computer graphics. It includes a computer graphics utility library of specialized subroutines on a 3.5 disk, designed for use with Turbo PASCAL 4.0 (or later version) - an effective means of computer-aided instruction for writing graphics problems.;Providing instructors with maximum flexibility that allows for the mathematics or computer graphics sections to be taught independently, this book: reviews linear algebra and notation, focusing on ideas of geometric significance that are often omitted in general purpose linear algebra courses; develops symmetric bilinear forms through classical results, including the inertia theorem, Witt's cancellation theorem and the unitary diagonalization of symmetric matrices; examines the Klein Erlanger programm, constructing models of geometries, and studying associated transformation groups; clarifies how to construct geometries from groups, encompassing topological notions; and introduces topics in computer graphics, including geometric modeling, surface rendering and transformation groups.
The goal of the Volume I Geometric Algebra for Computer Vision, Graphics and Neural Computing is to present a unified mathematical treatment of diverse problems in the general domain of artificial intelligence and associated fields using Clifford, or geometric, algebra. Geometric algebra provides a rich and general mathematical framework for Geometric Cybernetics in order to develop solutions, concepts and computer algorithms without losing geometric insight of the problem in question. Current mathematical subjects can be treated in an unified manner without abandoning the mathematical system of geometric algebra for instance: multilinear algebra, projective and affine geometry, calculus on manifolds, Riemann geometry, the representation of Lie algebras and Lie groups using bivector algebras and conformal geometry. By treating a wide spectrum of problems in a common language, this Volume I offers both new insights and new solutions that should be useful to scientists, and engineers working in different areas related with the development and building of intelligent machines. Each chapter is written in accessible terms accompanied by numerous examples, figures and a complementary appendix on Clifford algebras, all to clarify the theory and the crucial aspects of the application of geometric algebra to problems in graphics engineering, image processing, pattern recognition, computer vision, machine learning, neural computing and cognitive systems.
Focusing on the manipulation and representation of geometrical objects, this book explores the application of geometry to computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD). Over 300 exercises are included, some new to this edition, and many of which encourage the reader to implement the techniques and algorithms discussed through the use of a computer package with graphing and computer algebra capabilities. A dedicated website also offers further resources and useful links.
