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James A. Moorer


MATHEMATICS COLLOQUIUM

Speaker: James A. Moorer
Title: Mathematics Goes to Hollywood
Affiliation: Adobe Systems, Inc.
Date: Friday, October 15, 2010
Place and Time: Room 101, Love Building, 3:35-4:30 pm
Refreshments: Room 204, Love Building, 3:00 pm

Abstract. In the last two decades, all parts of the modern audio and video production have moved to digital computer-based equipment. As a result, technicians in Hollywood no longer obsess over film dye lots and camera transport mechanisms, but are just as likely these days to be found discussing the virtue of dual-quaternion basis functions for smooth character animation.

This talk will illustrate the invasion of mathematics into the creative process by taking a few concrete examples. I will try to show the remarkable diversity of mathematical disciplines that are employed. While the techniques can generally be described as applied mathematics, they sometimes reveal some thorny theoretical issues as well.