Computer graphics are images and movies created with computers. Typically, the term refers to computer generated image data created with the help of specialized graphics hardware and software. It is a vast and recent area in computer science. The phrase was coined in 1960 by computer science researchers Verne Hudson and William Fetter of Boeing. Often abbreviated as CG, although it is sometimes erroneously called CGI.
Important topics in computer graphics include user interface design, sprite graphics, vector graphics, 3D modeling, shaders, GPU design, implicit surface display with ray tracing and computer vision, among others. The general methodology depends to a large extent on the underlying sciences of geometry, optics and physics.
Computer graphics are responsible for displaying art and image data effectively and meaningfully to the user. It is also used to process image data received from the physical world. The development of computer graphics has had a significant impact on many types of media and has revolutionized animation, films, advertising, video games and graphic design in general.