THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPUTER GRAPHICS LAB IN AN INFORMATION CENTER ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Traditionally, graphics design was performed by a designer in an area teeming with large layout tables, bottles of rubber cement, pencils, pens, knife blades, and paints. With the introduction of the personal computer, the methods of graphics design, the role of the graphics designer as well as the products themselves have changed dramatically. Computer-generated graphics are being utilized in virtually every aspect of everyday life: in the media, entertainment arts, public areas, and in the office. Likewise, the methods and practices of automated data processing have changed dramatically. While custom programming by ADP (automated data processing) staffs and centralized data centers continue to exist, the emergence of end-user computing has enabled corporate America to decentralize computing and associated centers. Today, every large corporation in the United States, both profit and nonprofit, has or is implementing its own system of end-user computing support and management. These functional models have varied names such as information center, end-user computing center, computer resource center, or user support services. However varied the titles or organizational structure of today's information centers may be, each shares a common basic concept behind its existence: to help users of information become increasingly confident and competent in the use of the tools of information technology in order to achieve organizational goals. This study is based upon one such information center which has been and continues to be an integral part of the Central Intelligence Agency's Information Management Staff (IMS). Throughout the course of this writing, this information center will be referred to simply as "the IC" or the Information Center. In order to fully commit to the concept of end-user computing support and management, the development of the computer graphics lab requires accomplishing defined goals and addressing their related issues. These goals and issues are those which are covered in the context of this paper. Traditionally, the area of computer graphics is handled by one person or an entire staff who typically come from some type of artistic background. Generally, a computer graphics lab (CGL) employee's experience is attained through specialized graphics system training. The majority of computer graphics products are generated by this person or staff in a production environment with a minimum of end-user interaction. This study was initiated as a concerted effort to increase the interaction of the end-user and the computer graphics designer. The utilization of increased end-user participation in the design and development of his or her computer graphics product will: (a) increase computer graphics literacy, (b) increase usage of computer graphics, (c) enhance end-user self-sufficiency and productivity, and (d) enable greater control over data and applications.