When Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon made the groundbreaking TV documentary, "The Colours of Infinity" about the Mandelbrot Set and fractals - the geometry of roughness, his enthusiasm brought together a dream team of contributors. Sir Arthur C. Clarke presents it. Benoit Mandelbrot, the Belgian mathematician who first coined the term fractal and whose equation, the Mandelbrot Set, would reveal the wonder of fractals only when fed into a computer, explains how it began. Professor Michael Barnsley, the computer graphics researcher who developed fractal image compression technology, explains the applications of the breakthroughs. Professor Ian Stewart, author of "Does God Play Dice?" adds his insights into the beautifully simple equation that gives birth to fractals. A simple mathematical formula has led to a amazing uses in all branches of science, medicine, computer graphics, weather reporting and analysis, geography, topography and even economics.
Benoit Mandelbrot, Polish-born French-American mathematician, was largely responsible for the present interest in Fractal Geometry. His earlier work, combining linguistics and statistical thermodynamics, as well as mathematics and finance, led to a simple mathematic formula, the "Mandelbrot set", which described the self-similarity of shapes found in irregular objects in nature and even galaxies. Fractal geometry is the geometry of nature, of familiar and apparently random forms like trees, coastlines, rivers, and lightning. It gives us a language for our natural world. In this documentary, hosted by Martin Shaw, Benoit Mandelbrot tells his story in his own unique style, supported by interviews with a dozen contributors, including Nobel Laureate Professor Ivar Giaever, Yale University's Professors Peter Jones and Michael Frame and with scenes from the natural word and stunning visuals of the Mandelbrot set.
"Is God A Number?" is an account of the science of mathematics and its connection to mind and consciousness. If mathematics underpins the elegant precision of the macroscopic and microscopic worlds, is there a Master Mathematician as well? This fascinating film examines the computational paradigms being used to model human consciousness and to quantify reality, from Euclidean geometry to fractal transform algorithms. Oxford mathematician Sir Roger Penrose, quantum physicist Reverend John Polkingorne, compression technology expert Michael Barnsley, and physiologist Horace Barlow seek to understand how the brain functions–and grope for evidence of a guiding force. The film looks at the mystery of consciousness, whilst exploring the links between mathematics, the mind and the physical, observable universe. Computer graphics enhance this exploration of inner and outer space.
"Infinit" is a DVD bonus chillout film feature: 16 minutes of instrumental music composed and performed by David Gilmour, with fractal animation.
