Volume 16 of Advances in Computers continues to treat important areas of current interest in the computer field. The first volume of the series appeared in 1960, and subsequent volumes have appeared approximately yearly since then. Volume 16 thus continues what is one of the oldest, continuous series in the field of computer and information science. Over the years the series has concerned itself with the basic concepts, the systems and applications, and central computer-related issues. The five chapters included in Volume 16 cover a number of particularly important current interests which will likely have considerable long-range significance on the future course of computer development and information technology.
One of the more important and potentially useful applications of computer graphics has to do with the development of three-dimensional animation systems. These systems are very complex and involve many other aspects of computer technology in addition to graphics, including such areas as operating systems, programming languages, information structures, and hardware design. The subject is discussed both from a theoretical as well as an applied point of view by Charles Csuri of Ohio State University in his chapter on 3-D computer animation. He covers both the metaphysics and the mechanics of computer graphics and then describes several existing animation systems including Anima II, a powerful and flexible system developed by Csuri. He concludes that 3-D computer animation is practical and useful in many different ways and that its use will become widespread.