A Legacy of Insight, A Future of Impact in Computer Graphics and Applications

In our continuing series for the Computer Society's 80th anniversary, the current  Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications discusses the aims of the publication, his journey to becoming an EIC, and the future of the industry.

Pak Chung Wong is the EIC of IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications (CG&A) and the Vice President at Rocketgraph.

What is the core mission and editorial philosophy of CG&A, and how do those goals translate into the types of articles and technical topics you prioritize for inclusion?

Our mission is to advance computer graphics and visual computing by staying ahead of the field and shaping its future direction. We emphasize timely, forward-looking special issues while bridging academic research and industrial practice through accessible, application-driven articles that connect ideas, systems, and deployment.

What gaps do you see in the industry currently, what is your approach to changing that, and why it will be meaningful to practitioners/users.

Building on this mission, a key gap is the translation of rapid research advances into deployable systems. We foreground governance, provenance, and human–AI collaboration to support responsible adoption in practice.

Tell us about your journey–how did you get involved with IEEE Computer Society, how did you become an Editor-in-Chief?

I began my involvement with IEEE CS as a student in visualization, publishing at IEEE Visualization when it was the field’s primary venue. Over time, I founded IEEE VAST, chaired IEEE InfoVis and IEEE VIS, and guest edited multiple CG&A special issues before serving as an associate editor. I was later invited by then-EIC Gabriel Taubin to become interim AEIC for special issues, a role that became permanent, and subsequently served as interim EIC before becoming EIC.

What would you say is the biggest benefit of getting involved in the production (editorial) side of a technical publication? What advice would you give to people who want to get involved so they can maximize those benefits?

The greatest benefit is gaining a front-row view of where the field is heading and helping shape it through thoughtful curation and mentorship. Editorial service builds judgment, networks, and leadership beyond individual research. My advice is to engage early as a reviewer or guest editor, focus on constructive feedback, and prioritize community impact over personal visibility.

How has your publication and the research it platforms significantly impacted the industry or academic field it serves over its lifetime, and where do you see its unique contribution going forward? 

Over its lifetime, CG&A has translated research into practice. A landmark example is Marc Levoy’s “Display of Surfaces from Volume Data” (1988), which established core principles of direct volume rendering used widely in medical imaging and scientific visualization. Another is the 2004 CG&A special issue that coined Visual Analytics, an effort I led, which defined a new field, catalyzed the IEEE VAST conference, and influenced analytics platforms such as Tableau. Going forward, CG&A’s unique contribution is anticipating emerging paradigms and framing them for responsible, real-world adoption by both researchers and practitioners.

As an Editor-in-Chief, what aspect of the content review and selection process (e.g. identifying a groundbreaking paper, mentoring a new author, or shaping a thematic issue) do you and the editorial board find most fulfilling or rewarding?

The most fulfilling aspect is mentoring authors while shaping thematic issues that help emerging ideas reach a broader audience. Beyond selecting strong work, we value guiding contributors to clarify impact, communicate accessibly, and connect their research to real-world contexts where it can influence practice.

Beyond the technical correctness of a submission, what intangible qualities or elements, such as clarity of vision, potential for real-world application, or novelty of approach, truly excite the editorial board and distinguish a paper as a "must-publish"?

As noted earlier, we prioritize clarity of vision and pathways to impact. Papers stand out when they explain why a problem matters and influence how others think or build.

Looking ahead, what emerging or underserved areas in the field do you believe your publication is uniquely positioned to champion, and what strategic goals do you have for evolving the publication's scope and reach in the next five years?

We are positioned to champion areas where visual computing and AI intersect, including agentic AI, digital twins, provenance-aware media, and inclusive data. Our goals are to broaden global participation, deepen industry engagement, and evolve CG&A as a trusted forum for responsible, practice-shaping work.

What value do you think the articles in this publication have for the public? Are you doing anything to increase reach or accessibility to readers who may not be researchers (industry professionals other than developers such as students or enthusiasts)?

Our articles help the broader public understand how visual technologies shape everyday experiences, from media authenticity to healthcare and mobility. We emphasize accessible writing, real-world case studies, and societal context to broaden impact beyond researchers. To increase reach, we actively amplify content through social media, interviews, and thematic issues that connect technical advances to practical and human-centered outcomes.

Can you share a 'behind-the-scenes' story about a recent submission? Perhaps one that was initially controversial, highly interdisciplinary, or had an unexpected real-world impact—that illustrates the passion and rigor with which the editorial board reviews articles?

In 2025, CG&A launched the Perspective and Overview Paper (POP) category with new guidelines and outreach. Early submissions were rejected, and even a later POP faced a recommended rejection from an expert reviewer. After I realigned the review with the POP criteria, the evaluation shifted. The paper is now on track to become CG&A’s first accepted POP, underscoring the importance of educating the entire editorial workflow when introducing new formats.

What's one piece of technology or a research breakthrough that you personally saw published in your journal that you believe fundamentally changed the way practitioners in the field approach a problem?

Recent generative and human-centered AI work in CG&A reflects this philosophy, reframing AI as a collaborative partner rather than an automated tool.

Beyond the technical content, what unique features, community initiatives, or interactive elements is the publication developing to enhance the experience and value for its readers and contributors? Is there something you wish you could do/do more of?

Beyond technical articles, we are expanding interviews, perspectives, and special issues that surface community and industry experience. We are growing engagement through social media, virtual events, and global guest editors, and aim to add interactive formats such as practitioner case studies and reproducibility artifacts.

If you could send a single message to every current and aspiring professional in this field about the future of the technology and your publication's role in shaping it, what would that message be?

CG&A exists to connect bold ideas with real-world practice, helping the community shape the future of visual computing with impact and care.

About the Publication

Computer Graphics and Applications emphasizes the applied and experiential dimensions of graphical technologies. You can read more of the work it publishes in the Computer Society Digital Library.