Here are eight short, silent scientific films created from 1965-1968 at MIT and at University of California Livermore Radiation Laboratory. Most of the visual images were produced by pioneering computer graphics programs and displayed on a cathode ray tube. This includes a Lunar Lander 3d model shown on an Adage computer terminal screen, material produced on a CDC-3600 computer, as well as a PDP-7 computer and PDP-340 display terminal. Other films show data displays programmed by Computer Sciences Corporation, computed on a UNIVAC 1107 computer, and photographed on Stromberg Carlson 4020 recorder. Note: The films do not show the computer hardware, but the graphical displays are a record of some of the computer graphics capabilities of this era.
First, a 90 second promo for the Adage Graphics Terminal (note: Adage was founded by Jim Stockwell and two other MIT graduates in 1957).
00:11 A rotating graphic model of a lunar module on display screen
00:44 “You are Flying with the ADAGE GRAPHICS TERMINAL … A New Dimension in Computer Graphics”
Next at 02:00 “Scattering in One Dimension” By Abraham Goldberg, Harry M. Schey, Judah L. Schwartz. 02:41Blue chart with white lines showing graph “Particle Energy / Barrier Height .75” Chart show energy level increasing and decreasing. Visual depiction of energy waves in motion. 06:14 chart continues with change in Barrier height to 1.5, then 2.25. then 3.0.
09:30 “Particle Energy / Well Depth = .25” and various other depths.
At 15:05, “Scattering in One Dimension” — card: “This Film Demonstrates the time development of a one-dimensional quantum mechanical probability distribution (symbols) as it is transmitted and reflected by a potential…The purpose of this film is to give viewers insight into the behavior of time dependent quantum mechanical systems.” This film was generated in its entirety on the CDC-3600 computer.
At 21:44, “Biochemical Reaction Mechanisms”. Film opens with a graph showing X, Y axis, and expanding circle of dots plotted on X, Y axis 30:29 Film Title Slides: “PYRIDOXAL PHOSPHATE CATALYYZED REACTIONS” By Joel De Rosnay; Education Research Center and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “This computer animated movie has been produced by a PDP-7 computer linked to a PDP-340 Display console, which were both under the control of the IBM 7094 of Project MAC at MIT 31:03 Screen shows a rotating, three-dimensional model of the chemical structure of a Pyridoxal Phosphate molecule. Molecule rotates in several different directions. Film shows early use of computer CRT and processing power to graphically represent images of molecular structures. 31:40 SERINE HOCH2-CH(NH2)COOH
(An amino acid) Ionization of the proton of the carbon alpha of Serine
Next, at 36:49, “Quantum Mechanical Harmonic Oscillator” 1965, Produced for the College Physics film program under an NSF grant, Educational Services Incorporated; Solutions of the Schrodinger Equation for the Harmonic Oscillator, (formula seen on screen ..) or increasing values of the Energy E. Film shows wave forms on graph. Developed b Alfred M. Bork, Reed College; Programmed by Computer Sciences Corporation; Computed on UNIVAC 1107 computer; Photographed on Stromberg Carlson 4020 recorder.
Next at 40:51, Harmonic wave energy patterns. Many computer generated graphic images, not much text explaining what is being shown. Some mathematical formulas are being displayed. Graphic images in motion. Harry M. Schey & Judah L. Schwartz of the MIT; Computer Animation, Joseph Kaye & Co., Inc.; A Harper & Row Film; Produced by Visual Learning Corporation
56:05 Film clip only. Vertical bar graphs in motion, followed by waves in motion. 1:06:00 END
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com