Information theory (IT) tools, widely used in scientific fields such as engineering, physics, genetics, neuroscience, and many others, are also emerging as useful transversal tools in computer graphics. In this book, we present the basic concepts of IT and how they have been applied to the graphics areas of radiosity, adaptive ray-tracing, shape descriptors, viewpoint selection and saliency, scientific visualization, and geometry simplification. Some of the approaches presented, such as the viewpoint techniques, are now the state of the art in visualization. Almost all of the techniques presented in this book have been previously published in peer-reviewed conference proceedings or international journals. Here, we have stressed their common aspects and presented them in an unified way, so the reader can clearly see which problems IT tools can help solve, which specific tools to use, and how to apply them. A basic level of knowledge in computer graphics is required but basic concepts in IT are presented. The intended audiences are both students and practitioners of the fields above and related areas in computer graphics. In addition, IT practitioners will learn about these applications.

Mateu Sbert, University of Girona, Spain

Miquel Feixas, University of Girona, Spain

Jaume Rigau, University of Girona, Spain

Table of Contents
Information Theory Basics
Scene Complexity and Refinement Criteria for Radiosity
Shape Descriptors
Refinement Criteria for Ray-Tracing
Viewpoint Selection and Mesh Saliency
View Selection in Scientific Visualization
Viewpoint-based Geometry Simplification