P3D Re: flash-back

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Peter Davis wrote:
> Sentences like:
> 
>  > While today's graphics cards have 3D features, PC
>  > Magazine points out the data is trapped inside the card and once
>  > it travels to the monitor, it is squeezed onto a 2D surface.
> 
> only convince me that this was written by some clueless journalist who 
> hasn't the foggiest idea what this is about.
> 

While a bit overly simplified, I don't find anything wrong with the
quote above.  A 3D graphics card is a specialized computer that
accepts a list of 3D objects from the main computer and renders them
to 2D before displaying on a monitor.

In the computer graphics field the term "3D" has a specific meaning.
A 3 dimensional object is represented by data (points, polygons,
patches, etc.) that uses 3 coordinate values to specify the object.
(Actually 4 values since the math is easier with a 4x4 transformation
matrix.)  Usually such an object is transformed to a 2D representation
before display, but it can also be displayed stereoscopically, or even
used to produce a physical object, if the proper output device is
available.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
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