Geometry ceased to be merely the tool of the astronomer and surveyor. Today geometry is used in a remarkable array of applications. A hyperplane separation analysis of the Federalist Papers confirms that the twelve unsigned papers were almost certainly all written by James Madison. Voronoi diagrams are used to locate warehouse facilities and predict the final appearance of crystals growing under constraints. Ray tracing is used to construct graphical representations and create movies like Toy Story.
Geometric calculations enable real-time computer vision systems to drive cars.
Hidden surface removal reduces computation time in computer graphics. Convex hulls build collision avoidance into robot behavior. Professor Wilson plans to offer a geometry course in the Spring term next year which introduces the fundamentals of projective and noneuclidean geometries and shows some of the many applications of geometry to Imaging and Engineering. The course will be open to Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students.