[Edu-sig] Gnu Geometry

[kirby urner]

Awhile back I posted some scripts for defining and populating
'newgeom', a database of polyhedra in Sqlite.[1]

The idea of a classroom database is not new.

Enter

http://myschool/ms_purky/geom/polyhedra/?poly=tetrahedron and get some
view, courtesy of Django.

http://myschool/mr_duffy/geography/usa/capitals/?state=OR and get
whatever view of Salem (our state capital).

What's somewhat intriguing about our Gnu Geometry approach is hinted
at in this volumes column:

sqlite> select greekname, shortname, volume from Polyhedra;
Tetrahedron|tetra|1
Hexahedron|cube|3
Octahedron|octa|4
Rhombic Dodecahedron|cell|6
Cuboctahedron|cubocta|20

Through the close of the 20th century, most children were not exposed
to such a simple treatment, continuing their entrapment in a "2D"
(planar) world.

Moving "beyond flatland" was one of the hallmarks of new millennium
curricula, thanks in large degree to H.S.M Coxeter, aka the King of
Geometry, who paved the way with his clear explorations and
elucidations of the polytopal realm. [2]

With the advent of powerful personal computers and their ability to
render colorful, rotatable shapes in perspective, many teachers
discovered exciting new ways to revive both geometry and geography as
subjects of passionate interest.

Fractal geometry and cellular automata (both branches of chaos
mathematics) likewise fed this revival, as did the publication of
global data for civilian use (a geographic application).

Other news:

We're continuing to plan for OS Bridge, a new open source conference
in Portland where I will likely show off some XOs during one of my
talks, still quite exotic in this neck of the woods). [3]

Kirby

[1]
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2008-September/008756.html

[2]
http://www.amazon.com/King-Infinite-Space-Coxeter-Geometry/dp/0802714994
http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/intro/dedicate.html

[3] http://controlroom.blogspot.com/2009/01/os-bridge.html
http://worldgame.blogspot.com/2009/01/saving-children.html