From: ddebry@itchy.dsd.es.com (David DeBry)
Subject: 2nd RFD: comp.graphics.animation
Followup-To: news.groups
Reply-To: David DeBry <ddebry@dsd.es.com>
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: 21 Jul 92 19:18:22 GMT


Request For Discussion
----------------------

	This is a REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD) concerning the creation
of the newsgroup comp.graphics.animation.  The newsgroup will be UNMODERATED.

	Several existing newsgroups cover topics that are small parts
of computer graphics animation, but no one group ties all these
together, or discusses several points that are unique to this medium.
Also, the use of computer animation has seen an incredible increase in
the past couple of years, and is now prevalent in everyday visual
media.  A forum for discussion and advancement of this topic is needed.



Proposed Charter
----------------

	comp.graphics.animation will be a newsgroup where discussion
of the techinical aspects and technique of computer animation will
take place.  This *DOES* include (but is not limited to) such topics
as:

	1] Hardware and software used for an end result of a computer
animated sequence.  These include modellers, renderers, animators,
etc.  This topic, however, is limited by a mention later in the
charter concerning threads that become TOO system specific.

	2] Application of knowledge of other types of more "standard"
or "formal" animation to computer animation.

	3] Discussion of the technical aspects or techniques used to
generate existing computer animations.

	4] Forums for showing your own work and viewing other's
animations.  IE: Film & video shows/contests/competitions.  It's often
hard to know where to look to see computer animation, or where to get
your own work shown to the public.  Hopefully this will alleviate some
of the problem.

	This *DOES NOT* include (and is not limited to) such topics as:

	1] Pure artistic commentary on an existing animation.  (IE:
"The computer animation in that movie was great!")  SOME artistic talk
is allowed (actually, encouraged), but only for the purpose of leading
to (or working in sync with) a more techinical discussion (IE: "How
did they do that nifty computer animation?").  After all, this is a
comp. group.  If you want to just discuss artistic merit, please do!
(I'll probably join you!), but do it in a rec.arts. group.

	2] Highly system specific conversations.  If a thread becomes
too dependant on a certain software package or hardware setup, it will
be encourgaed to move to the appropriate comp. or comp.sys group.

	Obviously, since the group is not moderated, it will be
impossible to keep conversations topical.  However, posters will be
encouraged (by means of some mention in the newsgroup's FAQ) to take
their discussions to a more suitable newsgroup.



Taking part in this discussion
------------------------------

	All discussion is directed to the newsgroup news.groups, as
per USENET regulations concerning an RFD.  A couple of suggestions
when posting your views:

	1] Please enter the group name (comp.graphics.animation) in
the subject of your message, so people can know what you are talking
about. 

	2] Please keep the discussion public.  If your thoughts are
important enough to be typed, they are important enough to be read by
everyone.  (This changes, of course, when voting starts.)



The next step
------------

	In about two weeks from now, if the discussion has reached a
general consensus, I'll post a Call For Votes (CFV).  Watch in
news.announce.newsgroups for this.  (This may be delayed slightly, as
the date falls during or just after SIGGraph, where I and many other
people who are interested in this topic will be, instead of at our
respective terminals.)

	During the voting period, you may request a copy of a file
that contains the complete discussion of the proposed charter.  I'll
email it to you.

--
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