In this blog post, we’ll explain in simple terms how computer graphics create virtual reality and are used in a variety of industries.
The Gods of Virtual Reality: Computer Graphics
Have you ever seen pandas jumping around doing martial arts, or machines transforming into robots and fighting each other? Chances are, most of us have. In movies, of course. But in real life, there are no machines that turn into robots, no martial arts pandas, and only lazy pandas that eat bamboo. So how do they make these movies? The art of creating videos of things that don’t exist in the real world or are difficult to create is called computer graphics. It’s also commonly referred to as CG.
When you hear the term computer graphics, you might think that something has to be very realistic, highly specialized, and expensive to produce. However, computer graphics are often used in our daily lives. The subtitles you see on TV, or as we call it, the “pixelation”, are all examples of computer graphics. In addition, computer graphics are all around us, from simple printouts to colorful games.
Basic Elements of Computer Graphics
So what are the key elements of computer graphics? This question can be easily answered by thinking about the process of seeing things with our eyes. To see things with our eyes, we need three essential elements. The eye (or camera), the object, and the light that allows the eye to see the object. These three things are the important building blocks of computer graphics. Let’s briefly explain how these elements make up computer graphics.
It’s easy to understand if you think back to your middle school or high school art classes. When we do a plaster cast, we first place the plaster where it looks good. In computer graphics, the process of creating and positioning objects is called modeling. Next, we draw the shape of the plaster on a two-dimensional piece of paper, which is a projection of what the object looks like from a particular viewpoint onto a two-dimensional screen. This process is called rendering. Finally, to give the plaster a three-dimensional look, light and dark areas are painted with pencil to add dimension, a process called shading. In the process of shading, we can detail the color and even the material of the surface.
Through this process, we can easily create virtual worlds, and the technology of computer graphics gives us the freedom to use our imagination in virtual space. It is no exaggeration to say that computer graphics is “God’s technology for creating virtual reality” because it allows us to manipulate time and space freely.
Advances and Applications of Computer Graphics
Computer graphics technology has advanced remarkably since the 1980s. In particular, the development of parallel processing hardware such as GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) has led to a quantum leap in computer graphics. GPUs are capable of performing countless calculations simultaneously, making it possible to perform complex, large-scale 3D graphics tasks quickly. This has allowed us to create graphics so sophisticated that they are now indistinguishable from reality.
In modern games, we see ultra-realistic graphics running at 60 frames per second (fps), and these high-speed rendered screens look unobtrusive and natural. Because people respond so effectively to visual stimuli, computer graphics technology is heavily utilized in entertainment. However, computer graphics has gone beyond entertainment, such as games and movies, and is now increasingly being used in a variety of industries, including medicine, architecture, and education. For example, in the medical field, it’s used to simulate surgeries and create virtual anatomical diagrams, while in architecture, virtual building modeling can help identify structural problems before construction.
Future Technologies and the Future of Computer Graphics
As science and technology continue to advance, computer graphics will take us in even more amazing directions. Instead of being limited to two-dimensional displays, computer graphics will be able to create more realistic virtual reality when three-dimensional imaging technologies such as holograms become commercially available. This will usher in an era where sci-fi scenes that are only seen in movies and games can be experienced in everyday life.
These technological advances are closely linked to the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Devices such as virtual reality headsets are already commercially available, making it increasingly possible to experience virtual worlds, and as these technologies advance, computer graphics will become more sophisticated and realistic.
