Holographic display of computer simulations

Computer simulations can generate massive quantities of data. One problem for scientists and engineers is to assimilate and place in perspective the information available from the simulation and to communicate this information to other interested parties. The authors have been exploring some novel holographic display formats that provide hardcopy output of the results of computer simulations. These holograms allow rapid survey of graphical data as well as an opportunity to examine specific results. The hologram is more portable than a graphics workstation and is easily reproduced for wide distribution. The authors describe some of the holographic techniques, make some comments on pictorial presentation of data, and illustrate these points with examples from fluid dynamics, fracture mechanics, and architecture.