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From: Jim.McNamee@p7.f12.n376.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Jim McNamee)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: fractals as bad science
Message-ID: <117.256BB1E7@uscacm.UUCP>
Date: 22 Nov 89 14:15:33 GMT
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 > The fibrillating heart was chaotic, with a normal heart having a  > normal rhythm.

   Actually, the "normal" heart produces an ECG having a 1/f power spectrum whereas the "sick" heart has a more traditional looking spectrum.

   I have to disagree with Krantz's dim view of the utility of fractals.  Fractals are making contributions to the way we describe and understand all sorts of natural phenomena, much the way calculus did.  The fact that traditional mathematicians have shown little interest in this area neither proves or disproves its worth.


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Jim McNamee == ...!usceast!uscacm!12.7!Jim.McNamee


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