Pixel

If one wants to learn how computers create pictures then one should read Alvy Ray Smith's masterwork, A Biography of the Pixel, an enthusiastic and encyclopedic analysis of how this tech came to be, beginning with Joseph Fournier, the brilliant French mathematician indirectly discovering that our view of realty consists of endless photonic waves generated by the electromagnetic force from any light emitting source like a candle, the sun or wood burning in a fireplace. While reading Pixel, a question came to mind, did Fournier know of Thomas Young's double slit experiment showing the particle/wave duality of existence? If so, could said experiment be a possible start point to Fournier's great creative act as both researchers lived in the early 1800s. Note: The electromagnetic force was codified by James Clerk Maxwell in 1873.

Joseph Fournier

Thomas Young

Fournier's concept is all about harmonics, the beginning of Smith's notion of Digital Light.

The harmonics of color. The harmonic-analysis chart shows how the different wavelengths interact with red light. At a difference of λ/2 (half wavelength), red is perfectly in sync with its second harmonic in the ultraviolet. All other wavelengths in the visual spectrum have less than a λ/2 difference between them, forming harmonic oscillations in the combined waves. At λ/14, the oscillations cycle every 14th wave, while at λ/8 they will cycle every 8th. The lower section shows how the λ/4 harmonic interacts in visible light (green and red), as photographed in an optical flat.

For Young, it's all about waves.

Near-field intensity distribution patterns for plasmonic slits with equal widths (A) and non-equal widths (B).

CC BY-SA 4.0 File:Plasmonic Young's double slits interference.png Created: 22 August 2007

Interesting is it not? Read the book, his take on Turing is superb. 

Why photons rule ...

The electromagnetic force is responsible for generating visible light as well as radiation in other wavebands not detectable by the human eye. As electrons and protons fly around bumping into each other in a light source, the electromagnetic force produces photons of all wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Existence is digital with analogue overrode. To see why, click here.