Overview

Prior to the written word, we had oral histories and graphic depictions on wood, clay, or stone. The invention of paper and written text made possible a dramatic improvement in the recording and distribution of content, but it was still slow and labor-intensive. Photography dramatically advanced our communications by allowing us to capture patterns of light on glass, paper, and, later, polyester film. And although photography is fast and efficient, it cannot record things that do not yet exist.

Depicting things that do not yet exist is a basic attribute of design practice it's what we do as environmental design and planning (EDP) professionals. Until recently, we were limited in how we produced these depictions to the methods of traditional handdrawn graphics. However, this situation is rapidly changing since the advent of digital graphic technology. Computer-aided visualization (CAV) is radically changing how we explore and evaluate issues and ideas, while electronic graphics (e-graphics) is revolutionizing the means of graphic production and methods of content distribution. However, having access to exciting new methods for producing and distributing content does not mean that the transition to it is easy or without personal cost. In fact, digital technology tends to make some long-standing professional skills obsolete; skills that many experienced practitioners have relied on for many years and often take pride in. It also places significant demands on individuals to acquire new skills and to continuously work at updating these skills. In short, working electronically requires nothing less than a complete change in...