What is a fractal algorithm?

Question

At Star Trek this word sometimes comes up. I roughly know what a fractal is (that is i have seen fractal sets like Mandelbrot and roughly understood the principle) and i know what an algorithm is, but i can't figure out what a fractal algorithm would be like. Do you know some simple example? How can it be used? Is it of use in software, for example? Or is it only Star Trek gibberish which doesn't make sense?

yes, it wasn't Shatner who said that. It was on ST:VOY (In "The Void" and "Life Line")

An equation is not really what i understand to be an algorithm, or am I wrong?

Answer 1

Fractals of all four kinds have been used as the basis for digital art and animation. Starting with 2-dimensional details of fractals such as the Mandelbrot Set, fractals have found artistic application in fields as varied as texture generation, plant growth simulation and landscape generation.

Fractals are also being used in context with evolutionary algorithms in the Electric Sheep project, as people use fractals rendered with distributed computing as their screensaver, and "rate" the flame they are viewing. Then the server reduces the traits of the undesirables, and increases those of the desirables to produce a computer-generated, community-created piece of art.

Answer 2

I would say that it is an equation whose curve (representation) is a fractal, like a Mandelbrot pattern. Simple. You are right, equations are not algorithms. An algorithm is a sequence of instructions/equations that lead to the solution of a certain problem. But "Algorithm" sounds way more scientific for Tv and Cinema, doesn't it?

Answer 3

Perhaps you could classify the algorithm which defines the Mandelbrot set as a "fractal" one, although it might be tenuous at best...

(bet it wasn't the real Star Trek, just that new-fangled next gen nonsense, which just goes to show... I bet William Shatner has never said the word "fractal" in his life!)