IMPACT
Descartes’ Cartesian-coordinates have numerous real-world use cases across disciplines from engineering to computer graphics, from navigation to urban planning, and from robotics to medical imaging.
The reason why Cartesian geometry is pivotal is because it helps us represent points, shapes, and relationships in a precise and systematic manner.
"The number of applications of the Cartesian coordinate system in our daily lives is immense. Literally everything we do or see or use in our daily lives has something to do with Descartes’ great invention"
~ Descartes Secret Notebook, Amir D Aczel
Impact of Descartes work (The Story of Maths by Marcus Du Satoy, University of Oxford, BBC television series, October 2008)
In Computer Graphics, coordinates enable realistic simulations, animations, and visualizations.
Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) utilize coordinates for accurate navigation and distance calculation. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) employ coordinates for informed urban planning decisions.
Robotics use coordinates for navigation and object manipulation. Medical imaging relies on coordinates for precisely locating bodily structure and diagnosis.
Cartesian Applications
(Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings, Machines That Make (MTM), MIT)
(3D Computer Graphics software, ‘The Art and Science of Computer Graphics’ Medium article by Riya Warikoo, 2023)
(Chicago, IL:Latitude/longitude values, Google Maps interface)
(NASA’s GIS interface, NASA Earthdata)
(Robotic arms, ‘Converting Y, Z coordinates into Angles for a two axis Robot Arm’ Medium article by Paco Garcia, 2024)
(MRIs reconstructing brain image, AIMS Education, College of Health Sciences)
(Total Solar Eclipse Trajectory, Great American Eclipse 2024)
Cartesian-coordinates provide a universal language for spatial representation, revolutionizing how we understand, interact with, manipulate the physical world around us. The versatility and reliability of Cartesian-coordinates make them indispensable tools for solving complex problems and advancing human knowledge and innovation.