机械工程专业英语教程第三版lesson25.doc

机械五班 王乘龙 Lesson 25 Computer Graphics(Reading Material) The term computer graphics refers to the entire spectrum of drawing with the aid of a computer，from straight lines to color animation．An immense range of artistic capabilities resides under the heading of computer graphics and drafting is just one of them． Computer graphics was originally associated with the field of electronics．Companies directly involved in electronics design and manufacturing were the first to experiment and work with computer graphics．As they tested equipment and software，new demands arose that required changes and advances in both hardware and software．Equipment and programs got better，faster，more powerful，less expensive，colorful，and fun to operate． The potential for this new computer development was endless．And as engineers and drafters learned to work with the new tools in a technically demanding atmosphere，artists were using the new tools in an atmosphere of unlimited structure．We see the structure and freedom brought by engineers and artists to computer graphics as we watch animated television network．Complex mathematical calculations are combined with the creative eye of the artist to achieve effects unseen just a few years ago． The world of computer graphics is a dynamic and，at times，volatile filed. The developments in technique and equipment have advanced rapidly，and the areas of application continue to spread. The drafting applications of CAD are unlimited The speed-of-light capabilities of the computer have shaped the gathering，processing，storage，and retrieval of information into a major industry．Every day our lives are touched by the effects of computers．Contrary to science-fiction works of years past，computers have not grown to occupy the core of the earth，but have shrunk to microscopic proportions，and now occupy tiny spaces inside our machines and tools． The tools of the drafting trade have also felt the electronic touch of computers．The silicon chip has found its