Matthias Zwicker Interacting with Visual Data

My research in computer graphics focuses on the development of methods and systems to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of user interaction and manipulation of visual data. Interactivity is a fundamental characteristic of most computer graphics applications, yet user interaction processes are often extremely cumbersome and time consuming. Therefore, I believe that improving user interaction and manipulation is essential for the achievement of real progress in computer graphics. The often stunning results obtained with commercial computer graphics products can only be produced with enormous, and sometimes overwhelming, effort. Creating, modifying, and displaying three-dimensional objects with realistic shape, appearance and motion is still a challenging task even for the most highly skilled user. I believe novel algorithms and data structures that are designed to simplify the user interaction with visual data and extend the scope of available operations will impact the way we think about computer generated imagery. Computer images and interactive computer graphics systems will become even more ubiquitous; obtaining convincing results will require less user effort and experience. I have chosen to concentrate on three research areas where interactivity has proven to be a particular challenge. First, I am attempting to develop and improve 3D geometry representations that are suitable for interactive 3D modeling and content creation. Second, I am investigating methods for intuitive manipulation of visual data. This includes not only editing the shape and appearance of three-dimensional objects, but also working with two-dimensional images. Third, I am developing interactive rendering systems that let a user visualize and explore complex data in real-time. My approach to research in these areas is interdisciplinary, combining tools and methods from mathematics, physics, and computer vision with novel applications for interacting with visual data. In the following paragraphs I describe in more detail my areas of active research, summarizing achieved results and outlining current projects and ideas for future work.