Creating polyhedral models by computer
Michael Eisenberg, Ann Nishioka · 1997
This paper describes a computer application named HyperGami that permits users to design, explore, decorate, and study a rich variety of paper polyhedral models. In structure, HyperGami is a "programmable design environment", including both a direct manipulation interface as well as a domain-enriched programming environment based on the Scheme language; the application is thus designed to be accessible to students of geometry while providing challenging projects for long-term or expert users (such as professional mathematicians and designers). In the course of this paper, we describe the HyperGami interface and language; illustrate the construction of "customized polyhedra" of various sorts; discuss the results of our initial experiences using the system in working with middle-school students; and argue for the utility of embedding programming languages in educational design environments such as this one. 1. Introduction Over the centuries, human beings have been fascinated by polyhe...