The requirement for process structured graphics systems

The proposed standards for computer graphics are based on models of hardware configurations which were appropriate ten years ago. Today the applicability of these models must be questioned and the essential characteristics of future systems predicted, in order to allow suitable systems to be designed now for use by the future user community. The standards proposals do not seek to impose an implementation structure on future packages, merely to define the inputs and outputs from a 'black box'. However these definitions must be examined to expose any areas in which they exclude the possibility of some desirable implementation techniques. In particular the desirability of process oriented graphics systems should be established and the current proposals examined for pitfalls to adopting this type of implementation policy.