Editing Computer simulation (section)

== Visualization ==
Formerly, the output data from a computer simulation was sometimes presented in a table or a matrix showing how data were affected by numerous changes in the simulation [[Parameter (computer programming)|parameters]]. The use of the matrix format was related to traditional use of the matrix concept in [[mathematical model]]s. However, psychologists and others noted that humans could quickly perceive trends by looking at graphs or even moving-images or motion-pictures generated from the data, as displayed by [[computer-generated-imagery]] (CGI) animation. Although observers could not necessarily read out numbers or quote math formulas, from observing a moving weather chart they might be able to predict events (and "see that rain was headed their way") much faster than by scanning tables of rain-cloud [[coordinate]]s. Such intense graphical displays, which transcended the world of numbers and formulae, sometimes also led to output that lacked a coordinate grid or omitted timestamps, as if straying too far from numeric data displays. Today, [[weather forecasting]] models tend to balance the view of moving rain/snow clouds against a map that uses numeric coordinates and numeric timestamps of events.

Similarly, CGI computer simulations of [[CAT scan]]s can simulate how a [[brain cancer|tumor]] might shrink or change during an extended period of medical treatment, presenting the passage of time as a spinning view of the visible human head, as the tumor changes.

Other applications of CGI computer simulations are being developed{{As of?|date=December 2022}} to graphically display large amounts of data, in motion, as changes occur during a simulation run.