Department Guidelines: IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications

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Department Guidelines Applications department The Applications department is a regular feature of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications covering the use of graphics to solve real-world problems. Its existence is inspired by consistent feedback from the readership reflecting a strong desire for "more practical content," "more real world applications," "more practice and usage," "more implementation details," "more experience-related information," "more practical application of research results," and "bridging the gap between theory and application." The Applications department brings to CG&A readers examples of interesting or unique applications of computer graphics techniques and technology to different problem domains. Authors may submit applications articles themselves or may recommend applications stories for our staff writers to investigate and report on. CG&A's "Visualization Viewpoints" and "Projects in VR" departments also sometimes feature certain classes of applications articles. The key differentiation for the Applications department is coverage of topics beyond the domains of analyzing real data or creating realistic experiences, with an emphasis on the use of graphics techniques to solve new real-world problems. Acceptance Criteria Applications department articles will not be refereed, rather acceptance will be determined solely by the department editor. The following criteria will be applied: First, the contribution should be unique in some form--ideally, a graphics technique or technology being applied for first time to a given problem area. Second, it is not enough to simply report on "here's what we did." The key is to contain some "result" — something that was learned from doing it. For example, how graphics was used to solve a previously unsolved problem, how an existing graphics technique was refined to be useful in a new area, why this solution worked, what others were tried, and why this was better, limitations to this approach and a characterization of remaining problems, "how to" articles with interesting, non-obvious details, facts, and figures, what actually happened when real people used this solution. Although articles may mention equipment and products by name, and "applications notes" from product manufacturers can be a basis for articles, it is not sufficient to be in effect only an advertisement for a given product. Of course, any of the above rules can be waived if the editor thinks the area is sufficiently interesting, previously unknown to him, or something our readers would like to hear more about. Submissions Articles will be from six to seven published pages, including images, photos, and artwork, with at least one interesting figure per page. They may contain a few (three or so) references. Submit an abstract and keywords for use in our digital library. Provide specific information on how we can follow up with you, such as contact names and addresses, phone numbers, and email and Web addresses. Submissions should otherwise follow the general stylistic guidelines for CG&A authors of regular papers. Given space limitations, authors should expect that articles will be edited or rewritten by our staff as necessary. It is the author's responsibility to ensure that he/she has permission to publish images in print and online in our digital library. If the author did not create the image, he/she must acquire permission from the owner of the image. We cannot publish an image without the consent of the image's owner. To submit an applications article or recommend an applications story for our staff to cover, please contact the Applications department editor: Mike Potel Wildcrest Associates 13320 Wildcrest Dr. Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 potel@wildcrest.com Back to top Visualization Viewpoints Visualization Viewpoints is a regular feature of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications covering technical opinions on and the use of visualization techniques. This department highlights the many diverse fields using graphical, imaging, and other methods of visualization to understand results from research, engineering, business, and other areas. Visualization Viewpoints articles offer detailed technical opinions on trends in visualization or reports on how visualization has contributed to the comprehension of data. We have recently expanded the charter of the Visualization Viewpoints to encompass discussions of challenges or limitations in today's methods and areas for potential new topics for research. We are also interested in application writeups that focus on the physical, life or social sciences, engineering, or commerce, for example, or relate to the process of visualization in general. We strongly encourage an emphasis on lessons learned from practical experience for application writeups, particularly where visualization has been employed in a real, working environment. Although articles may mention equipment and products by name, and application notes from product manufacturers can serve as a basis for articles, it is NOT sufficient or appropriate for the article to be, in effect, only an advertisement for a given product. Criteria Visualization Viewpoints articles come from both general submissions to the department and solicitations by the editors. The articles are reviewed by the editors, IEEE CG&A staff, and editorial board. The following criteria will be applied: The contribution should be unique in some form. We seek novel technical opinions or applications on visualization techniques or technology being applied for the first time to a given problem area, or in a new problem area with which many CG&A readers may not be familiar. Visualization Viewpoints articles are SHORT, usually two to four pages with many figures highlighting the techniques used. High-quality figures are central to the discussions. Most of the articles use the following format: (a) Introduction to the field in which the visualization techniques are being applied or the context of the technical opinion. (b) The actual visualizations. (c) Results: what has been learned from the visualizations, what other techniques can be used or should be developed, and future goals of this project. Submissions Articles will run from two to four published pages, including images, photos, and artwork, with at least one interesting figure per page. They may contain a few (three or so) references. Submit an abstract and keywords for use in our digital library. Provide specific information on how we can follow up with you, such as contact names and addresses, phone numbers, email, and Web addresses. Submissions should otherwise follow the general stylistic guidelines for CG&A authors of regular papers. Given space limitations, authors should expect that CG&A staff will edit or rewrite articles as necessary. It is the author's responsibility to ensure that he/she has permission to publish images in print and online in our digital library. If the author did not create the image, he/she must acquire permission from the owner of the image. We cannot publish an image without the consent of the image's owner. Send submissions to Visualization Viewpoints editor Theresa-Marie Rhyne: Theresa-Marie Rhyne Independent Visualization Consultant email: theresamarierhyne@gmail.com Back to top Education Department The Education department is a regular feature of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, covering innovative instructional methods in computer graphics and interactive techniques. This department highlights new types of courses and courses that combine different fields—for example, art and technology. Acceptance Criteria Education department articles come from both general submissions to the department and solicitations by the editors. The articles are reviewed by the department editors, CG&A staff, and the editorial board. The contribution should be unique in some form. We seek novel courses or ideas, aspects of which CG&A readers can incorporate into their own instruction or curriculum: Articles should report on “best practices”—that is, the report should be based on actual courses, which have been proven to be successful. “Educators write for educators”—that is, the person writing is actually one of the educators involved in the course discussed. Articles should document appropriate, identifiable student success To include relevant information, use the following or an equivalent format: Introduce the problem or issue that the article addresses. Describe the motivation for the approach taken. Explain the approach’s implementation (this should be the bulk of the article). Describe the results and conclusions. Cite references. Submissions Education department articles are short, usually two to four magazine pages (1,600 to 3,200 words, with each figure or table counting as 200 words). Submissions should contain references (no more than 15). Include an abstract and keywords for use in our digital library. Provide specific information on how we can follow up with you, such as contact names and addresses, phone numbers, email, and Web addresses. Submissions should otherwise follow the general stylistic guidelines for CG&A authors of regular papers. Given space limitations, authors should expect that the CG&A staff will edit or rewrite articles as necessary. It’s the author’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has permission to publish images in print and online in our digital library. If the author didn’t create the image, he or she must acquire permission from the image’s owner. We cannot publish an image without the consent of the image’s owner. Send submissions to the Education department coeditors Gitta Domik and Scott Owen. Back to top Graphically Speaking Graphically Speaking is a regular feature of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications. This department provides a forum for contributors to present their own views, perspectives, and opinions on any aspect of interactive computer graphics generally, and specifically on the past, present, and future evolution of interactive computer graphics research, technologies, education, applications, and markets. This department highlights the diversity of influences on interactive computer graphics and its impacts, the breadth of its technological and application challenges, and the promises and changes interactive computer graphics might hold for the future. Graphically Speaking aims at offering detailed personal opinions, retrospectives, manifestos, prognoses, subjective comparisons, and impressions. It aims at describing and challenging the status-quo of interactive computer graphics, and predicting its many opportunities by learning from the past, questioning the present, and anticipating the future of a field that within a few decades evolved from the ideas and imaginations of researchers and scientists to become a commodity in all areas of our lives. We hope Graphically Speaking will also provide a link between the pioneers of interactive computer graphics and the legions of contemporary researchers, practitioners, and application developers that will redefine the interactive computer graphics of tomorrow by offering a podium for provocative opinions and a medium for heated discussions. Graphically Speaking provides a forum for researchers and practitioners in all areas of interactive computer graphics and applications, encompassing not only all areas of computer graphics and human-computer interaction but also broad and diverse application areas ranging from art and entertainment through education and the broad industrial ,and defense applications. And of course others only now being dreamt of, and those not as yet even at that stage. Criteria Graphically Speaking articles come from both general submissions to the department and solicitations by the editor. Articles will be reviewed by the editor, IEEE CG&A staff, the editorial board, and others as appropriate. Columns may deal with previously published or unpublished work, although they should not duplicate previous publications or mention other authors' work without adequate reference. Note that publication in Graphically Speaking does not preclude publication of the material in longer papers designed for conferences or journals. A primary concern is that material be interesting and thought-provoking, possibly even controversial for CG&A readers, even if they are unfamiliar with the application domain. The following criteria will be applied: The contribution should present to CG&A readers an interesting exposition of some aspect of interactive computer graphics, broadly defined, and be accessible by non-experts. The contribution should provide a non-obvious or non-mainstream personal viewpoint or opinion on past, present or future aspects of interactive computer graphics. Controversial viewpoints are fine; offensive statements are not. Overviews of current major and evolving initiatives or institutions dedicated to the field of Computer Graphics are invited. Articles must be short and to the point. Detailed expositions should be published in conference proceedings or journals. The article should provide a clear basis for the viewpoint presented as well as motivation for presenting it. Where appropriate, lessons learned or open questions should be emphasized in order to encourage response and foster discussion. Obtaining a diversity of topics is one of the editor's selection criteria. Although articles may mention equipment and products by name, and "applications notes" from product manufacturers can be a basis for articles, it is not sufficient to be in effect only an advertisement for a given product. Further, since contributions are intended to encompass personal views and opinions, direct references to products should be done with care, if included at all. Of course, any of the above rules can be waived if in the editor?s opinion the contribution is sufficiently interesting and something our readers would like to hear more about. Submissions Typical articles will run from two to four published pages, including images, photos, and artwork, with at least one interesting figure per two pages. They may contain a few (three or so) references and should provide specific information on how to follow up, such as contact names and addresses, phone numbers, email, and Web addresses. Submit an abstract and keywords with your article for use in our digital library. Submissions should otherwise follow the general stylistic guidelines for CG&A authors of regular papers. Given space limitations, authors should expect that CG&A staff will edit or rewrite articles as necessary. It is the author's responsibility to ensure that he/she has permission to publish images in print and online in our digital library. If the author did not create the image, he/she must acquire permission from the owner of the image. We cannot publish an image without the consent of the image's owner. To submit a Graphically Speaking article or recommend an applications story to cover, please contact the department editor. Send submissions to Graphically Speaking editor L. Miguel Encarnação: L. Miguel Encarnação Chief Innovation Officer ACT, Inc. 500 ACT Dr. Iowa City, IA 52243-0168, USA lme@computer.org Back to top Tutorial Requirements A tutorial for CG&A presents a broad overview of interesting and timely topics in computer graphics, developed to an appropriate level of detail and written at a level that is understandable to most CG&A readers (people with some knowledge of the basics of computer graphics but who may have little knowledge of the particular topic). The primary considerations in evaluating a tutorial falls within the scope of CG&A is interesting, well written, and well organized covers the topic sufficiently, puts things in perspective can be understood by most CG&A readers (This assumes the reader has some knowledge of computer graphics) presents background and historical material may present a future direction, next steps, or work that remains to be done presents current problems and issues assesses applicability and limitations material is pulled together and presented in a logical fashion so reader can see what is important and understood limitations To submit a tutorial, contact the tutorials editor: Cindy Grimm Washington University in St. Louis cmg@wustl.edu Further submission information is available here. Back to top Tools and Products Tools and Products, solicited and selected by Dave Kasik and contributing editor Carl Machover, reviews and promotes tools useful to the computer graphics community. We encourage submissions, especially tools used by contributors to the magazine. Send your recommendations to us at cga@computer.org.