Computer  graphics  have  experiencd a  period  of  rapid

          growth within the last few years.  It's ability to display images

          in three  dimensional form has greatly enhanced many professional

          fields such as education,  health professions, and architechtural

          design.   Other  features  of  computer  graphics  such as  their

          ability  to  combine  complex   mathematical   capabilities   and

          incorporate them with graphics,  have increased their application

          in  pilot  training,  engineering  industries   and   educational

          systems.  Bussiness applications of  computer graphics have given

          companies  many  practical  uses  that have been  profitable  and

          advantageous  for  them.   All these  applications  indicate  the

          display capabilities of  today's  advanced  technology.  Since we

          live and think in a three dimensional  world,  computer  graphics

          have  greatly  enhanced the entire nature of how we  visualz  the

          world today.


                  One  of  the  first   major  applications  of  realistic,

          digital-operated raster images was in the training of pilots  and

                      1
          astronaunts.   NASA  created  an  airplane  simulation  system in

          which  all  aspects  of  the  flight  were  programed  into   the

          computer.  A realistic view of everything a pilot  would see from


          ----------

          1.  Donald  Greenberg, Aaron Marcus, Allan  Schmidt,  and  Vermon
          Gorter,   The    Computer    Image,    (Reading,   Massachusetts:
                    ________________________
          Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1982), pp.30.



                                        - 1 -










          the cockpit windows of a real aircraft  appeared on the screen of

          the computer.  The simulations had  to  be real enough to prepare

          all the visual  aids  for  pilot  training, and at the same time,

          they had to be reproduced quickly enough to invoke action.  Since

          it takes an enormous amount to  data to create a single real time

          image,  special,  parallel   and   pipeline  systems  had  to  be

          constructed to carry out this  demanding  task.   A  pilot  could

          safely experiment with  difficult  landings, knowing that a crash

          would just mean running the program again.  Although this  system

          is presently expensive, it has been very effective and  efficient

          for pilot training.


                  The process of structural engineering analysis and design

          has  drastically  changed due to interactive  computer  graphics.

          The deravition  of computerized stress anaysis procedures and the

          easy  accessiblity  of computing power has  revolutionalized  the

          engineering field.  Most  types  of  stress analysis applications

          such as in  aerospace  and  automotive engineering, shipbuilding,

          building structures in architecture, and production of mechanical

          parts, now make  use  of  a  standardized,  and  limited  element

                              2
          methods of anaylsis.


                  This limited element method is composed of a set of basic

          shaped  interelated  parts  to  represent  an  intricate  object.

          Structual  equations  are calculated from each  of  these  models

          ----------

          2. Greenberg, pp.31.



                                        - 2 -










          which represent  each element's contribution to the whole system.

          When the responses of each of the calculations  are combined, the

          result of the intricate structures can be foretold.