Techniques for Animation on Microcomputers

Abstract

Animation is a powerful visualization aid and it has applications not only in the traditional areas of cartoons and fiction movies but also in the study of a wide variety of natural and simulated phenomena. Currently, there is growing interest in the study of animated algorithms and data structures particularly due to the availability of cheaper and more powerful microcomputers. Computer animation may use complex graphics systems and therefore the quality and speed of the graphics display are extremely important. Various techniques for animation on microcomputers are examined and it is shown that Scrolling techniques can be successfully applied for realistic animation in many application areas. Macintosh implementations of"animated algorithms" are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the method.