Ray Tracing Teaching Tool

Abstract

Ray tracing is a complex topic lacking educational and interactive tools for both classroom demonstration and student independent study. Ray tracing is a technique of mapping rays of light in each given scene as it bounces off walls and subjects, casting shadows and producing reflections that produces more real-life graphical representations. There is considerable interest in the graphics community to learn more about ray tracing to develop the desired level of photorealism in production and interactive rendering programs. The industry acceptance and resulting photorealism makes ray tracing an important concept for Computer Graphics students to learn. Ray tracing concepts are taught in introductory and advanced Computer Graphics classes around the world. The concepts associated with ray tracing are challenging to teach through slides as there are no intermediate visual output steps to aid students’ understanding of the concepts. The need for an interactive instructional tool that allows for camera controls, contains presentational aids and is easily accessible to teachers and students is high. The goal of the project is to build a tool that will aid in teaching ray tracing concepts to students.