Hello everyone,
My name is John, I'm a C++/OpenGL programmer (with about 15 years experience), and I'm 27 years old (as of four days ago).
I've been interested in fractals since the day I learnt about them, and more importantly applied use of them.
I've seen a few of the Mandlebulb and Mandlecube videos, It's an amazing piece of mathematical exploration - not to mention the many other 3D and 2D fractals I've come across in the gallery.
My interest however, is two fold - I see a lot of the work done on this forum and related websites as being the "science" of fractal generation, I see myself more as an engineer.
I don't in any way mean the slightest disrespect of course, much of the stuff here is above my head (for the moment); what I mean is this.
A physicist might build a magnetron and analyse EM-waves to understand them, the mathematics behind them, to understand how Physics works.
An Engineer reads, understands, and reviews the work of the physicist, then builds a Microwave so everyone can have hot-dinners.
In this regard, I'm more of an engineering type - ever since studying Lucasarts fractal-terrain from 1980's (Vol Libre[1]), I've been pretty obsessed with the concept of using higher level fractals to generate realistic terrains.
In that regard, the Mandlebulb is the Magnetron, what I wish to make is the microwave.
As I stated, My aim is two fold:
1. To gain a better scientific and mathematical understanding of advanced fractals (especially 3D ones).
2. Find ways to adapt these into iterative tessellating terrain generation mechanisms.
Primarily due to the concept that a fractal has (theoretically) unlimited depth, what I aim to do is produce a rendering system that can, rather than generate a set-number of iterations of depth - then explore. Generate successive iterations as needed while exploring.
I do apologize if my terminology is that of a layperson, my mathematical knowledge is somewhat sub-par.
[1]:
https://www.youtube.com/v/AfY6jS9LB4U&rel=1&fs=1&hd=1