Color and Sound in Algorithm Animation

  • Authors:
  • Marc H. Brown;John Hershberger

  • Affiliations:
  • -;-

  • Venue:
  • Computer
  • Year:
  • 1992

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Abstract

The techniques developed by M. M. Brown and R. Sedgewick (1985) in using the Balsa algorithm-animation system are reviewed. Techniques that focus on color and sound, areas just opening up in workstation-based interactive algorithm-animation systems, are described. Color is used for encoding the state of data structures, highlighting activity, trying multiple views together, emphasizing patterns, and making an algorithm's history visible in a single static image. Sound is used for reinforcing visuals, conveying patterns, replacing visuals, and signaling exceptional conditions. The techniques are based on work done with the Zeus algorithm-animation system. Six screen dumps from six different algorithm animations that are representative of the was Zeus was used are presented.