I use a program called Atomica that brings up a definition of any word if you place your cursor over the word and press "ALT" it definies FRACTAL as below A geometric pattern that is repeated at ever smaller scales to produce irregular shapes and surfaces that cannot be represented by classical geometry. Fractals are used especially in computer modeling of irregular patterns and structures in nature. This is about as good as it gets. You can't define something this technical without being technical. I personally like them because they are beautiful. For only-just-exactly that reason so I usually just tell anyone who asks that those poly-chromatic, hypergoemetric patterized posters you see at the music stores are examples of Fractals. This isn't exactly what you asked for but it's the best I can do. Hope the rest of the list can do better. T H A N K Y O U James R. McKenzie Jimmckenzie@earthlink.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anna Baron" <aeb5476@yahoo.co.uk> To: <fractint@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2002 1:29 PM Subject: [Fractint] Best concise definition of fractal ?
I'm curious to discover a really good explanation, in layman's terms, of what a *fractal* is - just a couple of sentences and no technical jargon.
I don't know much about fractals myself: all I do is play around with Fractint a bit but formulas are a mystery to me. I've occasionally been asked what on earth these fractals are that grab part of my time, and I'm aware that whatever brief answer I've come up with was far from enlightening. I've no doubt any of you could do much better so I'd love to hear if anyone has a particularly good definition up his sleeve.
A happy New Year to one and all! Anna
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