Maybe, the following will also interest you apropos of the mathematical
films.
1. Prof. David Hoffman (Email: hoffman@msri.org), the Head of the
Scientific Graphics Initiative, Director of the Center for Geometry
Analysis Numerics and Graphics (GANG) has created a number animated
scientific math videos, including the famous "Natural Minimal Surfaces,"
(Science Television, 1991 available from the AMS). See
http://www.gang.umass.edu/
See also Lectures of MSRI (Mathematical Sciences Research Institute) for
the General Public: http://www.msri.org/publications/video/general.html
2. Two years ago, we created a computer film "Beautiful Faces of the
PI-Number". But it is not a film ABOUT the PI-Number. It is such a
film where the PI-Number itself, using the cognitive visualization
technology, shows its own intellectual-aesthetic faces. Some
color-musical fragments of that film you can see in our "Artistic
PI-Number Gallery" at the WEB-address
http://www.com2com.ru/alexzen/galery/Galery.html
Professional Russian painters have appreciated the aesthetic merits of
the cognitive PI-images so greatly that the main author of the film
"Beautiful Faces of the PI-Number" has been elected a Full-Member of the
Painter Union of the Russia :-).
3. Some words about the history of one computer graphic math film'71.
{It is a little known page of the Soviet Computer Science: the BESM-6
computer pictures space 3D-obejcts on the everyday TV "Berjozka" screen
in 1971}.
In 1968-1971, a universal computer system "AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR
3D-GRAPHS" ("ACS 3D-G") for a numerical solution of the multidimensional
functionals optimization problem defined on space metric 3D-graphs was
worked out in Moscow state University. The initial purpose of the system
"ACS 3G-M" was the mathematical modelling of physical-chemical processes
at the molecular level. Such the modelling was based on the discrete
optimal control theory, quantum mechanics, R.Hoffmann's quantum
chemistry and molecular dynamics methods, regression analysis methods,
the theory of predicate logic inferences, and so on. The main task
consisted in the minimization of the functional, J = || Pe - Pt(G) ||,
by "parameter" G, where Pe and Pt are experimental and theoretical
"pictures", correspondingly, of a given physical-chemical property P of
a molecular system with 3D-geometry, G. Such the "pictures" were IR-,
UV-, MV-, NMR-spectrums, Roentgeno- and neutrono-grams, and so on.
In the fall'71, a group of computer engineers at the Computer Center
of the USSR Academy of Sciences brought out an only luminous point with
coordinates (X,Y) to a screen of a Soviet everyday TV "Berjozka" from a
memory of the BESM-6 computer.
A month later, a sub-system of "ACS 3D-G"-system for a visualization
of any 3D-graphs, functionals, "pictures", optimization processes
themselves, and so on was worked out basing on that computer graphics
"technology".
In the very end of 1971, the first computer math film in USSR was
created. The film called "AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MOLECULAR
3D-MODELS", and demonstrated the following subjects created by the same
"ACS 3D-G"-system.
1. The process of an initial 3D-geometry, Go, construction for any
molecular systems (such the process is called today "Molecular Design").
Some examples are shown. It needs to remark that a user makes no
calculations by hand in such the processes.
2. The process of the functional, J, minimization, i.e., the process
of the optimal 3D-geometry construction, stating from that Go-geometry.
As a rule, such the optimal 3D-geometry corresponds to the real geometry
of a given molecular system. Some examples are shown. By the way, we see
all transformations of that 3D-geometry, G, and the functional, J,
simultaniously.
3. The visual optimization of complex many-dimentional mathematical
functionals in drug 3D-design problems. With the antibiotic valinomicyn
as an example.
4. The visual mathematical modelling of the interception process of
a plane by a rocket "earth-sky". It is a minimax problem when one object
(the plane here) tryes to maximaze, but the other object (a pocket here)
tryes to minimaze the same functional, J, (here, the distance between
them) under given set of kinematic and dynamic restrictions.
5. The first in the world visual computer animation of natural
antroph-amorphous movements of a human-being. By the way, the complex
movements scenario is not a usual, strictly fixed consequence of a
priori calculated steps, but it is a sequence of discrete optimal
control tasks with functionals of the Chaplin's type: "to take off his
hat", "to twist his walking stick", "to bow to spectator", "to put on
his hat", and so on.
REMARK 1. Many years later (1983-1985), when Personal Computers
became easy of access, the sub-system ZGEOM based on the "ACS
3D-G"-system was worked out for the school education in 3D-Geometry
(Stereometry). The main feature of the ZGEOM-system consists in that a
pupil do not make any calculations: he must to input interactively only
the "given" of a task and a general STRATEGY of its solution in a
defined format. It permits him to develop his STRATEGICAL thinking. The
ZGEOM-system was successfully used in some schools and Lyceums in
Moscow.
REMARK 2. Main mathematical algorithms of the "ACS 3D-G"-system are
"know-how" up to present days. In particular, such as a sub-system for a
VISUAL optimization of multidimensional functionals, a sub-system for a
VISUAL search for good initial values, and so on.
THE CERTIFICATION OF THE MATH FILM "AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR
MOLECULAR 3D-MODELS".
The film was shooted by a common motion-picture camera from the
TV-"Berjozka" screen.
PRODUCTION'71 OF THE SCIENTIFIC FILM-PHOTOGPRAPHY CHAIR OF MOSCOW STATE
UNIVERSITY AFTER M.V.LOMONOSOV AND COMPUTER CENTER OF THE USSR ACADEMY
OF SCIENCES, by support of the two outstanding Soviet scientists:
academician A.N.Nesmeyanov (Decan of Chemical Department , and Rector of
Moscow state University, President of Iosif Stalin's Academy of Sciences
of the USSR), and academician A.A.Dorodnitsyn (Director of the same
Academy Computer Center).
FEATURES OF THE FILM: BLACK-WHITE, SILENT ONE, ONE PART, 10 min, 16 mm
film strip.
REWARDS: PRIZE AND HONOUR MEDAL OF THE ALL-UNION CHEMICAL SOCIETY AFTER
D.I.MENDELEEV, TWO HONOUR DIPLOMAS AND SEVEN MEDALS OF THE ALL-UNION
FAIR OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY PROGRESS OF THE USSR.
DURING 1983-1995 THE FILM WAS USING AS TRAINING APPLIANCE FOR FOURTH
YEAR GRADUATE STUDENTS OF CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT OF MOSCOW M.V.LOMONOSOV
UNIVERSITY (BY THE RECOMMENDATION OF ACADEMICIAN OF THE USSR ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES VALERY A. LEGASOV - THE OUTSTANDING SCIENTIST OF THE SOVIET
UNION AND THE TRAGIC VICTIM OF THE CHERNOBYL CATASTROPHE'86)
TODAY, THERE IS THE ONLY AUTHOR'S COPY OF THAT FIRST IN THE USSR (AND
ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE WORLD!) COMPUTER SCIENTIFIC-POPULAR MOVIE ABOUT
UNIQUE CREATIVE MATHEMATICAL POSSIBILITIES OF THE VISUAL ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM "AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR 3D-GRAPHS" ("ACS
3D-G").
Now we have a project for production a modern multi-media video-version
of that film. Until the film strip (and the author) disintegrates :-)
Since to realize such the project in modern Russia is practically
impossible, we are ready to consider any suggestions as to a joint
realization of such the project.
Contact please with
THE AUTHOR: Prof. Alexander A. Zenkin,
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences,
Leading Research Scientist of the Computer Center
of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Full Member of the Philosopy Society and of the Painters Union of the
Russia.
e-mail: alexzen@com2com.ru
WEB-Site http://www.com2com.ru/alexzen
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"Infinitum Actu Non Datur" - Aristotle.
Sincerely,
AZ