Xref: utzoo comp.graphics:8863 sci.edu:828 Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!decwrl!shelby!eos!eugene From: eugene@eos.UUCP (Eugene Miya) Newsgroups: comp.graphics,sci.edu Subject: Re: Visualization in Education (was Message-ID: <5771@eos.UUCP> Date: 5 Dec 89 19:44:43 GMT References: Reply-To: eugene@eos.UUCP (Eugene Miya) Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Calif. Lines: 31 Pardon me leaving the net for a while, I have a chance to hack (Ooops!) during the holidays, but before taking off, I think I should comment on Jim's note about EdVis. Jim talks about having a less elaborate system for learning. Nothing wrong with that. This was part of the intent of Randy Smith's Alternative Reality Kit. I think that was a great idea at the time, BUT the purpose of EdVis should be insight, not Alternative realities (fiction). This goes back to the Asteroids video game. The concept of "Negative Gravity." Randy's system had this. Great to learn about acceleration, force, but how long do you dwell on something which does not exist in known science? It's a model. Is the point to learn about gravity or to dwell (no pun intended) on a somewhat poor model? I have no immediate answer, the question is open. One argument, the fiction writer argument says, No harm, the person can create whole worlds, ala Tolkien, you would not want to stiffle creativity would you? Fine, let the English Departments pay for computers. 8) What's weird is that our science may exist in ONE reality. That would be hard for some free thinkers to swallow, but it is an option we must be prepared to explore. Anyways, no easy answers, no one wants to come down too hard. Do you place a "Too much time in negative gravity" message in the system? Another gross generalization from --eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@aurora.arc.nasa.gov resident cynic at the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers: "You trust the `reply' command with all those different mailers out there?" "If my mail does not reach you, please accept my apology." {ncar,decwrl,hplabs,uunet}!ames!eugene Support the Free Software Foundation (FSF)