Communications of the ACM

Computer-generated animated and enhanced movies and training simulations are now commonplace because of an exponential increase in cost-effective computer power and software robustness. Today, pilots and astronauts routinely train and practice normal and emergency scenarios much as they would in a real vehicle in an operational environment. As entertainment-seeking consumers, we regularly find ourselves viewing movies, TV, and games containing imaginary dinosaurs, aircraft dogfights, monsters, and voyages to other planets and galaxies.