Britannica Sources used in this answer

How can computer animation help medical and scientific researchers study complex movement?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Animated scene from The Wild Robot showing a round-eyed robot with a fox perched on its shoulder in a forest clearing. — Animation Scene from the 2024 science fiction animated film *The Wild Robot*, directed by Chris Sanders.

Computer animation assists medical and scientific researchers by providing a powerful tool to simulate and visualize highly complex motion.12

The process begins by translating a three-dimensional figure into computer terms, a method known as digitization. Once the object is digitized, the computer can generate and display a sequence of images that convincingly move or rotate the object through space. This capability allows researchers to observe and analyze intricate movements that might otherwise be difficult to study or visualize.12

Furthermore, this technology is a key component of scientific visualization, which involves the graphical display of real or simulated data. By utilizing high-performance workstations or supercomputers, researchers can create simulations that support deeper investigation across various fields, including biology, chemistry, and medicine.3