Algodoo

Nice

Hi FRA32. I'm glad to see that you are still alive (kinda)! LOL
Well, seriously speaking, you do not have a history of producing Algodoo scenes in great abundance, but the few that you did produce are of top quality (both technically and aesthetically). Much of the esoteric subject matter (such as the subject of this current scene) is way over my mathematically-challenged brain, but I often end up learning something from your scenes. I hope you will continue visiting Algobox, and continue posting awesome scenes!

Now, concerning spline curves and Bezier curves can you give a brief explanation as to how these calculations are used in the real world? I assume these curves are used by mechanical engineers to design gears and other such curvy mechanical shapes, but maybe you can elaborate on that.

Although I don't understand much about spline curves, I do have a pretty good feel for how graphical user interfaces should look and work. There are just a couple of suggestions that I have which should improve the look and feel of your scene. The first is contrasting text. Most of your text in the scene is white text over a black background which is easy and comfortable to read, but the green text, on the other hand, is quite difficult to read especially on a smaller computer screen. I suggest maybe making that green text either a brighter shade of green, or yellow, or white, and/or increase the font size.

The other issue is forcing the camera pan and zoom to be locked to specific values in the scene. When the camera pan and zoom were locked, it prevented me from moving and zooming in so that I could read the green text. I had to Pause Algodoo, read the text, and then Run it again. Maybe a better way to handle pan and zoom is to force the values you want for a particular focal point in the scene, but do not "lock" those values. Once the translation and zoom have been done, return control to the user until they click on another arrow to translate again.

Other than those two suggestions, you did a great job on the scene (as usual!).

Keep 'em coming!!!

@Xray I have updated the scene to incorporate your suggestions. Thanks for the feedback!

To answer your question about real world applications: Bezier Curves are used anywhere where you want a quick and easy adjustable curve. This is anywhere from Art software to create curved lines (Even in MS Paint), to animation software to create smooth transitions between Keypoints.
Now Splines on the other hand find application in more advanced applications. For example they are used to model and approximate data. A much more common example of their use is in 2D and 3D modelling software for creating smooth edges and surfaces, for example when designing the frame of a car, or to create a character for 3D animation. In those cases, you often find an even more complex version of splines called NURBS, which basically combines the approach behind Bezier Curves and Splines to create a really powerfull curve tool that is both smooth and easily adjustable. I might make a scene about NURBS too, once I fully understand just how exactly they work
A common use for Cubic Splines is calculating paths in real life. Rollercoasters, train tracks, anything where accelleration is important might have been made using Cubic Splines to achieve that smooth transition between segments. After all, you don't want to ride a rollercoaster and have the path suddendly change in curvature, the sudden change in force caused by that would knock you back and forth!

Reticulating Splines!

FRA32 -- Thanks for the real-world examples. Now I can relate this scene to things that I am familiar with.

I downloaded the scene, but I do not see the changes that you said you made to it. The green text is still green, and the camera pan and zoom are still locked.

I dont know what this does but it sure looks cool.

@Xray seems like uploading a scene by editting it in browser does not work as I hoped it would. That or I did something wrong lol.
Either way, it is fixed now!

Bravo! Good job!

Looking good.