THIS IS A LOCAL MIRROR OF A PANEL PAGE FROM SIGGRAPH'98

Is Robust Geometry Possible?

Since computers first calculated 2D and 3D geometry for design, modeling, animation, and visualization, implementors and users have been plagued by problems ranging from simple visual discrepancies (such as "cracks" between polygons) to strange program behavior, including outright crashes. Why is it so hard to correctly create and implement computer programs involving geometry, and what can be done to make geometric programs work correctly? This panel of industrial and academic experts generated lively discussion and strong challenges from the audience regarding the nature of the problem, the limits of existing methodologies, and radical proposals for new solutions.

Organizer
Kevin Weiler
Autodesk, Inc.

Panelists
Tom Duff
Pixar Animation Studios

Steve Fortune
Bell Laboratories

Chris Hoffmann
Purdue University

Tom Peters
University of Connecticut

Position Statement by Panel Members (A LOCAL ADDITION)