Patrick Coleman

Index:

Research Interests
Current Projects
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Research Interests:

Computer Graphics:    I'm interested in procedural methods of defining three dimensional models, mainly to create interesting and/or organic-looking shapes.  Some of the work I've completed in this was incorporated into a class project for an animation class--see the link to my general project page below for more information.  I am also interested in image processing techniques to generate artistic effects.
Animation:    I have done a great deal of reading in this area.  I have worked on projects in three-dimensional shape change and fluid animation.  More information on these projects is listed below.
Software Engineering:    I have worked on a project involving formal specification, and am also interested is system design issues, and how they apply to writing maintainable, extendable software, in a short period of time.  To be honest, I have to admit that this interest grew out of the fact that I enjoy reading far more than working on code that is difficult to understand.
Music Theory:    I am looking into how some of the techniques I've used in procedural modeling and motion (or similar ideas) might be applied to music composition.  This has required a great deal of independent study, and has been slow in going, mainly for lack of time.  At some point, real work might be done, but not in the near future.  

Projects:

• Fluid Animation
  This is my senior thesis research project.  I am working on one class of tool that would be useful from an animator's perspective in controlling fluid motion.  The tool allows the animator to specify a desired path of motion, and modifies the internal fluid properties and forces to create motion along the requested path.  This project is currently in development, and some results should be available early in Spring Quarter.  More information can be found at the link above.
   
• 3D Morphing

Diane Drozd and I have been  working on re-implementing and extending a technique to establish three-dimensional object correspondences.  The algorithm we are using was developed by Rick Parent, and resources describing this technique are available from the project web page.  Currently, a java implementation with a useful interface is in development.  If time permits, it may be extended to handle a larger class of objects.
 
• Specification of a Graphical User Interface

Karen Schliefer and I had been working on the development of graphical user interface components in the RESOLVE discipline.  The goal of the project is too have GUI components that 1) are specified in such a way that we may reason about them and 2) are general enough that they can be useful for developing applications in the RESOLVE discipline.  The project has been on hold for some time; completed work included the maintenance of the specifications to be able to apply them to a better design, and the outline of how to potentially implement the design.  The actual implementation still needs to be done, but the project has been on hold for some time.  If anyone else is interested in working on this, please contact me.
 
• Personal Project Page
  This page lists a number of projects--class projects, research, and projects that have been worked on as a grader for the CIS department.  This is generally the most up to date place to find out what I'm working on.

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