Modelling and Building Graphics Systems: GKS

The GKS-2D standard specifications were expressed by a combination of the Entity-Relationship (ER) model with Dataflow and State Transition diagrams. Our description was not only precise and complete, but also easier to understand than the original standard, mainly because of the use of diagrams. Starting from this description a GKS system was rapidly constructed making use of a general purpose subroutine package for ER data definition and manipulation. The performance of this GKS was found to be similar to that of commercially available products. Our description was extended to GKS-3D and is generally applicable to any graphics system. We suggest that such an approach would lead to more rapid convergence in the design of graphics standards and the construction of the corresponding systems.