The first such improvement was the introduction of miniature cameras into the scale models. Typically, these cameras move about at eye height in the model, and their image is transmitted to a television monitor. With this new technique, the task of understanding the spaces is greatly simplified because it removes the need to imagine oneself in small scale. As a result, evaluations about the modeled spaces have become more reliable. While the use of mini-cameras was being developed, parallel advancements in the field of computer graphics and animation began replacing the role of the physical scale model.
Computer models are more flexible because they can be modified at very little expense.
For many years, this technology suffered from limited graphic rendering and computer speed. Faster computers made it possible to display solid shading of polygons, and still faster and better programs added advanced rendering techniques, such as ray tracing, transparency and shadows. As the power of computers increased, the rendering time decreased. By sacrificing high rendering detail for speed, it allows viewers to move their viewpoint throughout the model in real time on the Macintosh platform. More sophisticated platforms, such as the Reality Engine, which runs on the Silicon Graphics workstation, are fast enough to render very high realism scenes in real time.