Abstract
The usual meeting ground between computer and user is the computer operating system (we will assume that you are familiar with the procedure for entering, editing and running simple programs on at least one type of computer, be it a simple home micro or a two million pound IBM mainframe). The dialogue between user and computer takes place using text input from a keyboard: the computer prompts the user for input, and the input determines the computer’s response. A variety of graphic devices may be interfaced to the computer, but unless the user is aware of the relevant commands to access and drive the graphics devices they will remain idle. There is indeed a mystique to computer graphics among the uninitiated, and often the larger the computer, the less accessible seems the possibility of using graphics. Multiaccess mainframe computer systems often provide only alphanumeric terminals for general use, and any graphic displays may be sequestered away in a little-used room or suite. In the worst case there may be little or no provision for graphics work to be done.
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© 1986 Robert Ransom and Raymond J. Matela
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Ransom, R., Matela, R.J. (1986). Graphics Software. In: Computer Graphics in Biology. Computers in Biology Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1490-5_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1490-5_3
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