Re: Talking vs Doing

[P3D John Ohrt <johrt@xxxxxxx>]

P3D Brian Reynolds wrote:

> Is an example of artistic input into scientific presentations I would
> point to various 3D computer rendered scientific visualization
> animations presented at SIGGRAPH over the years.  Many of these
> animations were made solely to be shown at SIGGRAPH, but many were
> also made to be shown at scientific conferences for their intended
> field of study (e.g., the various atmospheric animations).

Yes, someone chose colors to illustrate a point.  But before that,
someone had to figure out which parameters are significant, and how to
discriminate between the various phenomena.  After that, you ask your
boss "Would you like the caravan trail to be red and the sand yellow?"

To me that isn't artistry, that is a presentation skill.  But the end to
end transformations on the data are annotated so that someone else can
take the raw data and verify your work.  Then he goes to his boss and
asks "Would you like the carvan trail black and the sand brown?"


> .  A dry presentation of
> the data would have shown a few images of Mars from orbit followed by
> a topographical map derived from that data.  Instead the animation
> takes you on a high speed tour of Mars' various topographical features
> with Holts' Mars playing in the background as a voice over describes
> the various features and compares them to everyday experience.
>

Mars the movie isn't scientific in any meaningful sense.  It is a nice
entry level instructional aid and can stir up interest in NASA
activities.  It should be artistic to a degree, but when you don't have
the sky the right color..........

Regards,

--

John Ohrt * Toronto * ON * Canada






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