The Geometry of Computer Graphics

Proceedings of the 1997 St. Olaf Geometry Conference

Nicholas Jackiw^[1]

Key Curriculum Press
njackiw@keypress.com
August 1997

Abstract

The recent field of computer graphics nicely merges many elegant and simple geometric ideas with concerns about function, realism, and aesthetics. In so doing, it provides a stimulating context for exploring many traditional topics of an introductory geometry course. In this paper, which is based on my after-dinner presentation at the St. Olaf conference, I develop a number of problems and activities drawn from the field of computer graphics, and illustrate them with dynamic sketches from The Geometer's Sketchpad.

Table of Contents

• Why Computer Graphics?
• Computer Graphics in Use
• Ideas, Problems, and Investigations in Computer Graphics
• Fractal Foliage
• Studies in Light
• Perspective and 3-D
• Studies in Motion
• Kristin's Ferris Wheel
• And Beyond
• References
• Downloadable Sketches and Scripts

^[1] Portions of the work described in this paper were funded under National Science Foundation grants DMI-9660861 and DMI-9623018. Thanks and a tip of the hat to Shari Horne for constructing the Web version of this paper!