Techniques and tools for computer manipulation of graphical information have proliferated rapidly during the past few years. This work has led to the development of numerous software packages for interactive as well as non-interactive graphics. Their relevance and importance to Computer Aided Design in particular led the IFIP Working Group 5.2 to set up a committee to initiate an active programme directed towards establishing standards for computer graphics.
After an initial study, the committee decided, as a necessary preliminary step, to concentrate on creating a methodology around which a standard could later be built. This subject was addressed at the IFIP W.G. 5.2 Workshop on Methodology in Computer Graphics, held at Seillac, France on May 23-26, 1976. What is reported in this volume are the contributions of the participants during the Workshop.
Chapter I consists of a selection from the papers which were presented during the first part of the Workshop. Accompanying each paper is a condensation of the discussion period which followed the presentation. All participants were required to submit a paper declaring their position regarding a methodology prior to the Workshop. As well, some members of the organizing committee volunteered to present papers on specific topics in order to provide a background and context for the meeting. Most of the papers were distributed to the participants before the Workshop so that presentations could be short and more time spent on discussions. We have tried to preserve the informality of the discussions in this volume.
Chapter II is a condensation of the working documents of the subgroups. Following the discussions of the submitted papers, it was decided to split into sub-groups to try and follow up some of the ideas that had been raised. The groups were not rigid and participants were free to move from one group to another. However each group produced a working paper at the end of each session documenting its decisions, conflicts and progress. These documents, although in rough form, are published with the intention that they may inspire or help further work on what has been addressed. The documents have been grouped to form three associated selections and one miscellaneous.
Chapter III is a report of the Seillac I Workshop presented to IFIP W.G. 5.2 (CAD) along with a list of Guidelines and Recommendations which were the initial results of the Workshop.
Appendix 1 gives information about continuing activities in the area of computer graphics standardization. It is the hope that the Seillac Workshop will provide direction and inspiration to those concerned with the design and use of computer graphics systems. There are several groups that are working on topics that readers, who have found this volume interesting, may wish to contact.
Editor's Note: It is only fair in reading this document to realize that the ideas and conclusions contained herein are a result of the contributions of all of the participants directed efforts.
