With the advent of the special-purpose graphics processor, graphics system design is feasible in a university undergraduate environment. This project serves to strengthen the curriculum in the areas of graphics, image processing, microprocessor-based design, and capstone design through the creation of a graphics system design laboratory facility and the creation of a new graphics design course. The facility and the new course are based on the TMS34010 graphics processor. The equipment required includes eight student stations where the design, testing, debugging and documentation of laboratory exercises take place. The laboratory course consists of a series of structured exercises culminating in a term project which integrates all of the preceding exercises into a graphics system. This provides for teaching state-of-the-art graphics system design, as well as fundamental microprocessor-based design. The award is being matched by an equal amount from the principal investigator's institution.
