[1960s MIT COMPUTER GRAPHICS DEMONSTRATION FILMS]

Year Published: 1960s

Creator: Visual Learning Corporation

Description:

Here are eight short, silent scientific films created from 1965-1968 at MIT and at University of California Livermore Radiation Laboratory. Most of the visual images were produced by pioneering computer graphics programs and displayed on a cathode ray tube. This includes a Lunar Lander 3d model shown on an Adage computer terminal screen, material produced on a CDC-3600 computer, as well as a PDP-7 computer and PDP-340 display terminal. Other films show data displays programmed by Computer Sciences Corporation, computed on a UNIVAC 1107 computer, and photographed on Stromberg Carlson 4020 recorder. Note: The films do not show the computer hardware, but the graphical displays are a record of some of the computer graphics capabilities of this era.

First, a 90 second promo for the Adage Graphics Terminal (note: Adage was founded by Jim Stockwell and two other MIT graduates in 1957).
00:11 A rotating graphic model of a lunar module on display screen
00:44 "You are Flying with the ADAGE GRAPHICS TERMINAL ... A New Dimension in Computer Graphics”

Next at 02:00 “Scattering in One Dimension” By Abraham Goldberg, Harry M. Schey, Judah L. Schwartz. 02:41Blue chart with white lines showing graph “Particle Energy / Barrier Height .75” Chart show energy level increasing and decreasing. Visual depiction of energy waves in motion. 06:14 chart continues with change in Barrier height to 1.5, then 2.25. then 3.0.
09:30 “Particle Energy / Well Depth = .25” and various other depths.

At 15:05, “Scattering in One Dimension” -- card: “This Film Demonstrates the time development of a one-dimensional quantum mechanical probability distribution (symbols) as it is transmitted and reflected by a potential...The purpose of this film is to give viewers insight into the behavior of time dependent quantum mechanical systems." This film was generated in its entirety on the CDC-3600 computer.

At 21:44, "Biochemical Reaction Mechanisms". Film opens with a graph showing X, Y axis, and expanding circle of dots plotted on X, Y axis 30:29 Film Title Slides: “PYRIDOXAL PHOSPHATE CATALYYZED REACTIONS” By Joel De Rosnay; Education Research Center and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “This computer animated movie has been produced by a PDP-7 computer linked to a PDP-340 Display console, which were both under the control of the IBM 7094 of Project MAC at MIT 31:03 Screen shows a rotating, three-dimensional model of the chemical structure of a Pyridoxal Phosphate molecule. Molecule rotates in several different directions. Film shows early use of computer CRT and processing power to graphically represent images of molecular structures. 31:40 SERINE HOCH2-CH(NH2)COOH
(An amino acid) Ionization of the proton of the carbon alpha of Serine

Next, at 36:49, “Quantum Mechanical Harmonic Oscillator” 1965, Produced for the College Physics film program under an NSF grant, Educational Services Incorporated; Solutions of the Schrodinger Equation for the Harmonic Oscillator, (formula seen on screen ..) or increasing values of the Energy E. Film shows wave forms on graph. Developed b Alfred M. Bork, Reed College; Programmed by Computer Sciences Corporation; Computed on UNIVAC 1107 computer; Photographed on Stromberg Carlson 4020 recorder.

Next at 40:51, Harmonic wave energy patterns. Many computer generated graphic images, not much text explaining what is being shown. Some mathematical formulas are being displayed. Graphic images in motion. Harry M. Schey & Judah L. Schwartz of the MIT; Computer Animation, Joseph Kaye & Co., Inc.; A Harper & Row Film; Produced by Visual Learning Corporation
56:05 Film clip only. Vertical bar graphs in motion, followed by waves in motion. 1:06:00 END

Complete Record: Here are eight short, silent scientific films created from 1965-1968 at MIT and at University of California Livermore Radiation Laboratory. Most of the visual images were produced by pioneering computer graphics programs and displayed on a cathode ray tube. This includes a Lunar Lander 3d model shown on an Adage computer terminal screen, material produced on a CDC-3600 computer, as well as a PDP-7 computer and PDP-340 display terminal. Other films show data displays programmed by Computer Sciences Corporation, computed on a UNIVAC 1107 computer, and photographed on Stromberg Carlson 4020 recorder. Note: The films do not show the computer hardware, but the graphical displays are a record of some of the computer graphics capabilities of this era. First, a 90 second promo for the Adage Graphics Terminal (note: Adage was founded by Jim Stockwell and two other MIT graduates in 1957). 00:11 A rotating graphic model of a lunar module on display screen 00:44 "You are Flying with the ADAGE GRAPHICS TERMINAL ... A New Dimension in Computer Graphics” Next at 02:00 “Scattering in One Dimension” By Abraham Goldberg, Harry M. Schey, Judah L. Schwartz. 02:41Blue chart with white lines showing graph “Particle Energy / Barrier Height .75” Chart show energy level increasing and decreasing. Visual depiction of energy waves in motion. 06:14 chart continues with change in Barrier height to 1.5, then 2.25. then 3.0. 09:30 “Particle Energy / Well Depth = .25” and various other depths. At 15:05, “Scattering in One Dimension” -- card: “This Film Demonstrates the time development of a one-dimensional quantum mechanical probability distribution (symbols) as it is transmitted and reflected by a potential...The purpose of this film is to give viewers insight into the behavior of time dependent quantum mechanical systems." This film was generated in its entirety on the CDC-3600 computer. At 21:44, "Biochemical Reaction Mechanisms". Film opens with a graph showing X, Y axis, and expanding circle of dots plotted on X, Y axis 30:29 Film Title Slides: “PYRIDOXAL PHOSPHATE CATALYYZED REACTIONS” By Joel De Rosnay; Education Research Center and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “This computer animated movie has been produced by a PDP-7 computer linked to a PDP-340 Display console, which were both under the control of the IBM 7094 of Project MAC at MIT 31:03 Screen shows a rotating, three-dimensional model of the chemical structure of a Pyridoxal Phosphate molecule. Molecule rotates in several different directions. Film shows early use of computer CRT and processing power to graphically represent images of molecular structures. 31:40 SERINE HOCH2-CH(NH2)COOH (An amino acid) Ionization of the proton of the carbon alpha of Serine Next, at 36:49, “Quantum Mechanical Harmonic Oscillator” 1965, Produced for the College Physics film program under an NSF grant, Educational Services Incorporated; Solutions of the Schrodinger Equation for the Harmonic Oscillator, (formula seen on screen ..) or increasing values of the Energy E. Film shows wave forms on graph. Developed b Alfred M. Bork, Reed College; Programmed by Computer Sciences Corporation; Computed on UNIVAC 1107 computer; Photographed on Stromberg Carlson 4020 recorder. Next at 40:51, Harmonic wave energy patterns. Many computer generated graphic images, not much text explaining what is being shown. Some mathematical formulas are being displayed. Graphic images in motion. Harry M. Schey & Judah L. Schwartz of the MIT; Computer Animation, Joseph Kaye & Co., Inc.; A Harper & Row Film; Produced by Visual Learning Corporation 56:05 Film clip only. Vertical bar graphs in motion, followed by waves in motion. 1:06:00 END