Scientific Computing: Matlab

          Scientific computing is widely used in solving complicated scientific problems. As a useful scientific computing application, Matlab, one of well-known languages, works on commercial mathematical aspects.

                                    

         Matlab represents matrix and laboratory. Compare to traditional computer languages, C and C++,     Matlab is software application which can quickly deal with various scientific computing problems. Matlab is considered as one of the standard software tools in scientific fields.

          Matlab is used for "a range of applications, including signal processing and communications, image and video processing, control systems, test and measurement, computational finance, and computational biology." (Wiki)

          The Matlab’s main functions are listed as follow.

     Matlab combines the high performance numerical computation and visualization

together and provides plentiful built-in functions.

          

          Matlab’s algorithm ensures the accurate results of computing.

   Matlab provides variable developing tools, such as Matlab editor, M-lint code checker, Matlab profiler

and directory reports.

     Matlab provides a simple and easily used developing language, M language. M language has a similar syntax and style as C language.  M language is open source language. The developers can view and fix the exist codes or they can add their new customized function in the codes 

          Matlab’s toolboxes enforce the supporting for the technical and mathematical special application.  

         Because of Matlab’s useful function, I used it in my last semester’s math 178 course which the professor asked our group to build a mathematical model for diamond ring price. Matlab did help us to do a great job on our project.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Matlab

Scientific computing: Overview

                           

       With the popularity of computer, scientific computing, known as computational science, is becoming to one of the fundamental mode in scientific research.  “Scientific computing is concerned with constructing mathematical models and quantitative analysis techniques and using computers to analyze and solve scientific  problems.”(Wiki)  

       

       The features of scientific computing are listed as follow.

1.      The first feature of scientific computing is to solve the wide range of data with a large amount of calculation. It is difficult to deal with the big data, a collection of data sets which are large and complex to process, by traditional data application.  Computer can easily solve the complicated problems. 

2.      The second feature is that the calculation is relatively simple. Using the scientific computing application, scientists can easily get the solution without hard work on hand calculation and formulas analyzing.

3.      The third feature is that the scientific computing involves not only data calculation but also a lot of graphical interaction.   

4.      The fourth feature is that scientific computing has high reliability and high performance. It is hard to correct the issues in the traditional way. When one data is wrong, people will re-calculate the formula and re-build the model from the beginning. It will take a long time to correct a small data mistake. Using the scientific computing application, the computer will help to finish all the calculation and model building. The only thing people will do is to find the mistake and correct it. 

       Scientific computing is used in various science fields. It not only saves the time and money but also changes the development of science.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_science

Computer Graphics: my experience of taking computer graphics course in SJSU

                

    “Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and the representation of images data by a computer specifically with help from specialized graphic hardware and software.”(Wiki)

    Last semester, I took CS116 A, Introduction to Computer Graphics.  I took computer graphics course by accident. I knew nothing about computer graphics. Although it is the hardest course I have ever taken, it is also a course which can make lots of fun.

   The prerequisite of taking Computer graphics is that the learner must have programming experience. In SJSU, the prerequisite programming language is C or C++. 

  “The Introduction of computer Graphics course covers vector geometry, geometric transformations and the graphics pipeline, basic raster graphics algorithms for drawing discrete lines, clipping, visible surface determination and shading, display of curves and surfaces, and graphics data structures.”(Soon Teoh)

   At the beginning, I was confused about how to use C to draw a geometric graph.  The first simple assignment for drawing points and lines by using OpenGL made me cry. After two weeks study, I was getting better and found computer graphics’ charms. 

   From simple points to lines, from lines to polygons, from polygons to 3D views, I was starting to enjoy the achievement which I learned from computer graphics. At the end of the semester, after I drew a 3D graphic view, I was obsessed with computer graphics. Although I can draw a simple 3D graph which just included trees and house, I knew I am on the right way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics

http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/~teoh/teaching/previous/cs116a_fa12/FA12_greensheet_116a.html