Associate Professor of Computer Science
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1991
Professor
Shirley joined the Department in 1996.
He is interested in creating highly realistic
images of virtual environments, and visualization of complex data.
The former involves explicit and procedural
generation of geometric models with realistic optical characteristics,
light transport simulation to determine the outgoing light distribution
from surfaces, and tone reproduction to create images displayable on low
dynamic range media such as paper and CRTs. The latter involves
issues of visual representation of complex data, as well as strategies
for navigation and interaction that help the user extract local and
global information about the data. In 1998 he received the College
of Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award.
