SIGGRAPH Launches Free Program Offering Educational Videos to Computer Graphics Community

SIGGRAPH University provides a sampling of the content from the annual SIGGRAPH conference. The videos are available to the public at no cost through the ACM SIGGRAPH YouTube channel. All who watch the videos are encouraged to continue the educational experience by attending SIGGRAPH 2014, 10-14 August in Vancouver.

SIGGRAPH University features recorded versions of four popular Courses from SIGGRAPH 2013 in Anaheim, California. Each Course is presented by experts in the field who also happen to be dynamic, energetic speakers. This program provides a resource to the SIGGRAPH community that is available year-round, not just at the annual conferences.

The program will expand in future years to include a series of online educational videos and supplemental materials available in the field of computer graphics and interactive techniques.

The inaugural SIGGRAPH University program features the following Course videos:

“Introduction to 3D Computer Graphics" covers the basics of 3D computer graphics in a friendly and visual way, without math or programming. The course is introductory level and it’s mostly made up of live demonstrations, because computer graphics is a great way to teach new ideas. Topics include the basic principles and language. The course is presented by Andrew Glassner from The Imaginary Institute.

"The Digital Production Pipeline" explores the operating procedures for studios to produce content. While these studios look to tighten budgets, minimize risk and broaden films’ reach worldwide across platforms, there is no longer a standard operating procedure. Shorter schedules, and globalization are as disruptive to the digital pipeline today as non-liner editing and digital cameras were to their analogue counterparts. This Course examines digital pipelines, exposes a few of the methods that haven’t changed for far too long, and takes a look at trends in production workflows that will allow studios to quickly adapt to these ever changing environments. Instructors include representatives from Sony Pictures Imageworks, PDI/Dreamworks, Method Studios, MPC and How to Make Good Pictures, LLC
   

 “Mobile Game Creation for Everyone" provides an overview of the basics of mobile game development. The Course covers three free-to-use mobile game engines and provides an overall education of possibilities, pipelines, pitfalls and general tips and techniques. The three games/companies featured include:  Project Anarchy From Havok, Unity Game Engine From Unity Technologies, and Corona Game Engine From Corona Labs.

"An Introduction to OpenGL Programming" provides an accelerated introduction to programming OpenGL, emphasizing the most modern methods for using the library. In recent years, OpenGL has undergone numerous updates, which have fundamentally changed how programmers interact with the application programming interface (API) and the skills required for being an effective OpenGL programmer. The most notable of these changes, the introduction of shader-based rendering, has expanded to subsume almost all functionality in OpenGL. This course is presented by Edward Angel of the University of New Mexico and Dave Shreiner of ARM, Inc..