Color and sound in algorithm animation

Author

Brown, Marc H. ; Hershberger, John

Author_Institution

DEC Syst. Res. Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Volume

25

Issue

12

fYear

1992

Firstpage

52

Lastpage

63

Abstract

The techniques developed by M. M. Brown and R. Sedgewick (1985) in using the Balsa algorithm-animation system are reviewed. Techniques that focus on color and sound, areas just opening up in workstation-based interactive algorithm-animation systems, are described. Color is used for encoding the state of data structures, highlighting activity, trying multiple views together, emphasizing patterns, and making an algorithm´s history visible in a single static image. Sound is used for reinforcing visuals, conveying patterns, replacing visuals, and signaling exceptional conditions. The techniques are based on work done with the Zeus algorithm-animation system. Six screen dumps from six different algorithm animations that are representative of the was Zeus was used are presented.<>

Keywords

acoustics; algorithm theory; colour; computer animation; data structures; Balsa algorithm-animation system; Zeus; activity highlighting; algorithm history; color; data structures; encoding; exceptional conditions; interactive algorithm-animation systems; multiple views; pattern conveyance; pattern emphasis; sound; static image; visual reinforcement; Animation; Displays; Heuristic algorithms; Parallel algorithms; Partitioning algorithms; Sorting; Visualization;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9162

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2.179117

Filename

179117