Thomas A. DeFanti
Encyclopedia
Tom DeFanti is a computer graphics
researcher and pioneer. His work has ranged from early computer animation
, to scientific visualization
, virtual reality
, and grid computing
. He is a distinguished professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago
, and a research scientist at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology.
, under Charles Csuri
in the Computer Graphics Research Group. For his dissertation, he created the GRASS programming language
, a three-dimensional, real-time animation system usable by computer novices.
In 1973, he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago. With Dan Sandin
, he founded the Circle Graphics Habitat, now known as the Electronic Visualization Laboratory
(EVL). At UIC, DeFanti further developed the GRASS language, and later created an improved version, ZGRASS, implemented on the low-cost Datamax UV-1
. The GRASS and ZGRASS languages have been used by a number of computer artists, including Larry Cuba
, in his film 3/78 and the animated Death Star sequence for Star Wars
.
Later significant work done at EVL includes development of the graphics system for the Bally
home computer, invention of the first data glove, co-editing the 1987 NSF
-sponsored report Visualization in Scientific Computing that outlined the emerging discipline of scientific visualization, invention of PHSCologram
s, and invention of the CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment
. DeFanti's current work includes heading the TransLight/StarLight international multi-gigabit networking project and co-directing the OptIPuter optical networking and visualization project.
DeFanti contributed greatly to the growth of the SIGGRAPH
organization and conference. He served as Chair of the group from 1981 to 1985, co-organized early film and video presentations (which became the Electronic Theatre), and in 1979 started the SIGGRAPH Video Review, a video archive of computer graphics research.
DeFanti is a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery
. He has received the 1988 ACM Outstanding Contribution Award, the 2000 SIGGRAPH Outstanding Service Award, and the UIC Inventor of the Year Award.
Papers and articles, a selection:
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
researcher and pioneer. His work has ranged from early computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
, to scientific visualization
Scientific visualization
Scientific visualization is an interdisciplinary branch of science according to Friendly "primarily concerned with the visualization of three-dimensional phenomena , where the emphasis is on realistic renderings of volumes, surfaces, illumination sources, and so forth, perhaps...
, virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
, and grid computing
Grid computing
Grid computing is a term referring to the combination of computer resources from multiple administrative domains to reach a common goal. The grid can be thought of as a distributed system with non-interactive workloads that involve a large number of files...
. He is a distinguished professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
, and a research scientist at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Biography
DeFanti did his PhD work in the early 1970s at Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, under Charles Csuri
Charles Csuri
Charles Csuri , aka Chuck Csuri, is a pioneer in the field of computer art and a former All American college football player.-Digital art:...
in the Computer Graphics Research Group. For his dissertation, he created the GRASS programming language
GRASS programming language
GRASS was a programming language created to script 2D vector graphics animations. GRASS was similar to BASIC in syntax, but added numerous instructions for specifying 2D object animation, including scaling, translation, rotation and color changes over time...
, a three-dimensional, real-time animation system usable by computer novices.
In 1973, he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago. With Dan Sandin
Daniel J. Sandin
Daniel J. Sandin is a video and computer graphics artist/researcher. He is a Professor Emeritus of the School of Art & Design, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Co-director of the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago...
, he founded the Circle Graphics Habitat, now known as the Electronic Visualization Laboratory
Electronic Visualization Laboratory
The Electronic Visualization Laboratory is a cross-disciplinary research lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It brings together faculty and students from the Art and Computer Science departments of UIC...
(EVL). At UIC, DeFanti further developed the GRASS language, and later created an improved version, ZGRASS, implemented on the low-cost Datamax UV-1
Datamax UV-1
The Datamax UV-1 was a pioneering computer designed by a group of computer graphics artists working at the University of Illinois at Chicago, known as the Circle Graphics Habitat...
. The GRASS and ZGRASS languages have been used by a number of computer artists, including Larry Cuba
Larry Cuba
Larry Cuba is a computer-animation artist who became active in the late 1970s and early 80s.Born in 1950 in Atlanta, Georgia, he received A.B. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1972 and his Master's Degree from California Institute of the Arts which includes parallel schools of Dance,...
, in his film 3/78 and the animated Death Star sequence for Star Wars
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
.
Later significant work done at EVL includes development of the graphics system for the Bally
Bally
Bally Technologies, Inc. is a manufacturer of slot machines and other gaming technology based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the descendant and continuation of the original Bally Manufacturing Corporation of Chicago....
home computer, invention of the first data glove, co-editing the 1987 NSF
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
-sponsored report Visualization in Scientific Computing that outlined the emerging discipline of scientific visualization, invention of PHSCologram
PHSCologram
- Name and background :PHSCologram is a registered trademark for barrier-strip and lenticular autostereograms made by Chicago-based art collective n laboratory....
s, and invention of the CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment
Cave Automatic Virtual Environment
A Cave Automatic Virtual Environment is an immersive virtual reality environment where projectors are directed to three, four, five or six of the walls of a room-sized cube...
. DeFanti's current work includes heading the TransLight/StarLight international multi-gigabit networking project and co-directing the OptIPuter optical networking and visualization project.
DeFanti contributed greatly to the growth of the SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH
SIGGRAPH is the name of the annual conference on computer graphics convened by the ACM SIGGRAPH organization. The first SIGGRAPH conference was in 1974. The conference is attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals...
organization and conference. He served as Chair of the group from 1981 to 1985, co-organized early film and video presentations (which became the Electronic Theatre), and in 1979 started the SIGGRAPH Video Review, a video archive of computer graphics research.
DeFanti is a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
. He has received the 1988 ACM Outstanding Contribution Award, the 2000 SIGGRAPH Outstanding Service Award, and the UIC Inventor of the Year Award.
Publications
Books, chapter in books, and article. A selection:- 1987. Visualization in Scientific Computing. Edited with Bruce H. McCormickBruce H. McCormickBruce Howard McCormick was an American computer scientist, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Computer Science, and founding director of the Brain Networks Lab at Texas A&M University.- Biography :...
and Maxine D. BrownMaxine D. BrownMaxine D. Brown is an American computer scientist and associate director of the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago . Along with Tom DeFanti and Bruce McCormick, she co-edited the 1987 NSF report, Visualization in Scientific Computing, which defined the...
. ACM Press. - 1989. "Computer-Generated Barrier-Strip Autostereography". With others. In: Proceedings of SPIE, Three-Dimensional Visualization and Display Technologies, S S Fisher|W E Robbins, 1083, 65-75, 09/01/1989 - 09/01/1989
- 1991. "Simulacra/Stimulacra::Fractal". With others. In: Art Futura. 01/01/1991
- 1994. "Foreword", With Maxine D. Brown. In: Scientific Visualization : Advances and challenges. Lawrence J. Rosenblum (ed.). Academic Press Academic Press, 1994. pp. xv-xvi.
Papers and articles, a selection:
External links
- Thomas A. DeFanti website at uic.edu