Fall 09 Visual Computing Seminar

Fall 09 Course: CP SC 405/605 Computer Graphics Systems

Spring 09 Course: CP SC 881-02 Physically Based Animation


Donald H. House

Professor and Chair

Division of Visual Computing
 School of Computing

Clemson University

Recent Publications

Don Photo

After a 16 year stay at Texas A&M University, playing a key role in the development of their Visualization Program, Dr. House has moved on to the (literally) much greener and hillier pastures of Clemson University and its newly formed School of Computing. As newly appointed Chair of the Divison of Visual Computing, his mission is to develop the faculty, curricula, and research agendas of the Division.

Dr. House is a is a born and bred Yankee (New York and New England), a Computer Scientist (UMass), and a devoted member of the Baha'i Faith.

The Division of Visual Computing is planned to house B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. specializations in Visual Computing, as well as to play the lead role in further development of Clemson's existing M.F.A. program in Digital Production Arts. Visual Computing is conceived to encompass a number of disciplines bearing on image making, image manipulation and image understanding within a computing context. These will include Animation and Visual Effects, Computer Graphics, Illustration, Machine Vision, Visualization, Visual Perception, and Visual Storytelling.

In his research, Dr. House has explored many aspects of the fields of computer graphics and visual perception. His current research thrust is investigating "human in the loop" methods for the perceptual optimization of visualizations. He is best known for his work in the area of physically based modeling, championing interacting-particle approaches to the simulation of cloth and drapery and other flexible materials. He and David Breen compiled the book Cloth Modeling and Animation. Early in his academic career, House was known as an authority on brain mechanisms for depth vision in anuran amphibians (frogs and toads). He has since confined these aberrant tendencies to developing a 3D graphics system called Jabka, whose name in Russian is roughly translated as toady.

His wife Lynette is an accomplished artist. They have two children, Ian who is a software engineer in New Hampshire, and Felice who is a painter in Texas. Ian is married to Gina House and they have two boys, Timmy and Ben. Dr. House loves being a grandpa and misses being near the boys.

For fun he is struggling to learn some Spanish, is an avid swimmer, and enjoys art, biking, skiing. He is looking forward to renewing his interest in sailing in the beautiful lakes in the Clemson area.