viz.

In 21st century rhetoric and writing departments, we don't teach geometry.  But like the sciences, we are developing computer games.  Here in the DWRL, graduate student developers have created Rhetorical Peaks, an interactive game, where students practice rhetorical terms and strategies. It's interesting, then, to compare how different fields use different kinds of computer-assisted gaming.  On Thursday, I saw these geometry games, which are visualizations for outer space created by Jeffrey R. Weeks.

Image credit: Screenshot from Geometry Games H/T to Jeffrey Weeks

A freelance mathematician and author of The Shape of Space, Weeks presented at the University of Texas to a full auditorium.  He let audience members interact with several geometry games, free and downloadable, which were lessons in spatial visuality connected to theories on the shape of the universe. For example, the below shot of his tic-tac-toe game, while appearing to be a two-dimensional, actually works in three dimensions (the torus-shape).  The outer squares meet the opposite side like a cylinder. This means your x's and your o's make connections beyond the edges of what you see.  The combinations of winning and losing plays are increased.  Forgetting it is 3-D can make you an easy target to your opponent. Note:  You can play another human, or the computer.

Image credit: Screenshot from  Geometry Games H/T to Jeffrey Week

Weeks' visualizations became progressively more advanced as the talk went on with various models of how a finite universe might be shaped. Some of more viable theories are for a slightly curved universe (about 1% curved) and a dodecahedron universe (the initial screenshot, above). The interesting thing is that these kinds of visualizations come before the latest data.  Based on math principles and current cosmography, these games approximate what patterns of micro-wave data and light data would look like if the universe was curved or boxy, or torus-shaped, etc.  Then, the visuals get placed against the patterns of the most up-to-date data. Most of these data are coming from NASA's WMAP, a satellite orbiting the sun on the same path as the earth.  The combination of computer programming and satellite data has produced stunning findings.

Caption:  Horizon view of microwave data

Image credit:  NASA/WMAP Science Team

I was struck with how useful the visualizations were for translating higher-order math and cosmography into layman's terms.  I was also struck with the way these 3-D games have such a powerful application in the field of cosmography. It makes me curious as to comparing the implications of 3-D gaming in the humanities and 3-D gaming in the sciences?   I don't have an answer here, but I think it would be fascinating to discuss.  A hat tip and curtsy to Eileen's recent posts on science and visuals, by the way, which have helped me to think more in this direction.

Image credit:  NASA/WMAP Science Team

P.S.  Did you know scientists can see 99.997% to the beginning of time?  For those of us who rarely ponder the realities of space-time, this info is pretty mind-altering