Re: [buffyloveswillow] FIC: Return to Beantown

[Erin <erin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 23 Sep 2000 22:05:45 -0400, Patrick Kelly <bandits@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Title: Return to Beantown
> Rating: PG-13
> Author: Pat Kelly

Pat, this stuff just keeps getting better and better. Can't wait to
see more great Buffy/Faith relationshippy stuff. :) I'm such a
sucker for that stuff, and I love the way you write it.

I do have some suggestions on the computer stuff...

> "But your processor's a thousand megahertz. Super-computer, right?"

Supercomputers don't measure by the same speeds that normal computers
do. A Supercomputer will have (literally) thousands of processors set
up in a parallel, distributed processing arrangement. They measure
the speeds of supercomputers by billions or trillions of calculations
per second (teraflops). A Cray T3E, for example, can provide 2.4
trillion calculations per second (or 2.4 teraflops).

As for the problem with rendering the wolf cub model, most game
developers now use skeletal animation, which means they develop a
model with "intelligent" bones and joints, and program the computer as
to their logical range of motion. From that point on, the computer
figures out what kind of movement is needed, and it does the
animation, allowing the animator to program more complex models. Now,
obviously this kind of thing is going to be very processor intensive,
so most game developers have turned over the rendering, textures, and
lighting to the *hardware*, in this case, 3D video accelerator cards.

> There were three other computers in the room, all the same. More RAM and megahertz than
> Willow could ever afford. And they were hooked up to ISDN lines. She was jealous. Sarah
> had CD burners, ZIP drives, voice activation...so much technology. She could live here.

Just a minor quibble, but she'd probably have something like a T3,
rather than an ISDN. Especially if she's doing real-time VR -- audio
and video is very bandwidth-intensive.

At any rate, I loved the story, I just couldn't help getting pedantic
on the computer stuff, cuz I've worked closely with computers for the
past 5 years or so. :) It's my other passion. I'd be happy to
answer any questions if you have any you want to ask.

Erin
--
"Like everyone, Dan had been taught since elementary school that 
sharing books was nasty and wrong--something that only pirates 
would do." -- http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
*email: erin@xxxxxxxxxxx
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