Simulation and graphics on microcomputers

Abstract

It is difficult to relate the output of a simulation model to the physical system it describes. Graphic representa tions of results can make simulations more credible and more interesting. On most large computers, how ever, there are software and hardware barriers between the user and graphical output. Microcomputers, on the other hand, are easy to use, and simple graphics are easy to produce without help from a programmer or systems specialist. Examples show bar charts, snap shots, dot plots, bit density plots, and contour plots of simulation results generated using an Atari 800 micro computer, a color television, and an Epson MX-80 printer (costing about $600) with graphics capability. All the user must do to obtain such plots is write short programs (less than 100 statements) in BASIC.