L. Miguel Encarnação

A New Wave

IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications editor in chief Miguel Encarnacao welcomes the magazines incoming associate editor in chief for general submissions Kwan-Liu Ma and new editorial board members Mike Bailey, Hrvoje Benko, Yung-Yu Chuang, Jorn Kohlhammer, Joseph J. LaViola Jr., Lisa Sobierajski Avila, Andre Stork, Melanie Tory, and Wenping Wang.

Information Visualization

In addition to many fine department contributions, this issue contains several feature articles from the CGaA general queue on information visualization and visual analytics.

The Queue Is Having an Issue

In addition to many fine department contributions, this issue contains five feature articles from the CGaA general queue, on topics ranging from natural user interfaces to interacting with undersea robots to a machine-learning-driven sky model.

Human Touch in Digital Experiences

This issue showcases a selection of feature articles that all have in common a strong emphasis on using computing environments to improve the human experience. A key element in these works is adding touch to visual representations, which has long been established as necessary for improving human-computer interaction. Rather than focusing only on in-depth issues of haptic displays, the articles in this issue provide an interesting crosscut of different embodiments and applications for improving, mimicking, facilitating, or even reducing the need for human touch in digital experiences.

In Memoriam: Wolfgang Straßer (1941-2015)

Wolfgang Straser was one of the computer graphics pioneers who shaped the field in Germany and beyond. An important theme in his work was the development of novel algorithmic solutions, taking into account the capabilities and perspectives of modern graphics hardware. With the passing Wolfgang Straser, the computer graphics community loses one of its early pioneers, a remarkable scientist, a great mentor, and a precious friend.

Interacting with Diverse Realities

The theme articles in this issue highlight the breadth of computer graphics and visualization research, development, and applications that make up our research field. CGaA also welcomes two new members to its editorial board: Jan Bender (Technische Universitat Darmstadt) and Victoria Interrante (University of Minnesota).

M1C2: Experiments in Community Building through Collaborative Research Dissemination

CGaA EIC L. Miguel Encarnacao describes how the magazine is actively working to make computer graphics theory, technology, and applications more accessible by bridging the boundaries between the academic community and the more applied field of computer graphics research in government and industry. In a new publication experiment, CGaA is collaborating with the IEEE Visualization Conference (www.ieeevis.org) in the hopes of broadening and strengthening the computer graphics and visualization community.

3D Is Back

Editor in chief Miguel Encarnacao discusses the special issue on Interacting above and beyond the Display. He also introduces the magazines newest editorial board member, Manuel M. Oliveira of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

Encouraging the Use of Visualization Technology

Associate Editor in Chief Miguel Encarnacao discusses the state of visualization in academia and industry. Also, he thanks former editor in chief and long-time editorial board member Maureen Stone, as she retires from the editorial board.