# SURFER

program

SURFER 1.7.0 setup for Windows 32-bit (Mac and Linux packages see below). PLEASE NOTE the info for mac users at the end of the description text.

## Credits

SURFER is a program by IMAGINARY in collaboration with the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.

## Contributors

DirectionGert-Martin Greuel
ProgrammingChristian Stussak (Java renderer) Maik Urbannek (JavaFX), Henning Meyer (previous version)
Concept, CoordinationAndreas Daniel Matt, Anna Hartkopf
DesignChristoph Knoth
GalleriesHerwig Hauser
TextsMaria Alberich, Jordi Buendía, Capi Corrales, Lara May, Anna Sabater and Emilio Sánchez

## Supported by

SURFER and IMAGINARY are supported by the Klaus Tschira Stiftung (2011-2013) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2008–2009).

With SURFER you can experience the relation between formulas and forms, i. e. mathematics and art, in an interactive way. You can enter simple equations that produce beautiful images, which are surfaces in space. SURFER is the Java-based extension of the program SURFER2008 that was developed for the IMAGINARY exhibition in the year of Mathematics in Germany.

Mathematically, the program visualizes real algebraic geometry in real-time. The surfaces shown are given by the zero set of a polynomial equation in the variables x, y, and z. All points in space that solve the equation are displayed and form the surface. As an example look at x2+y2+z2-1=0, the equation of a sphere. You can easily see that the point (x,y,z)=(0,0,0) is not on the sphere while the points (1,0,0), (0,1,0) and (0,0,-1) for example solve the equation. The program includes a big sample gallery with explanations and a tutorial. It is available in several languages including German, Spanish, Russian, Serbian, and Portuguese.

The great thing about SURFER is that you don’t have to understand the underlying mathematics (algebraic geometry) a priori, you can experiment, try, follow your intuition and creativity and this way learn maths and create unique artwork like pictures or animations.

SURFER is the new, Java-based version of the program SURFER2008 that was developed for the IMAGINARY exhibition in the year of Mathematics 2008 in Germany. The program is platform-independent and runs on a Windows, Linux or Mac operating system. SURFER has been used for many IMAGINARY exhibitions and is constantly improved and extended.

NOTE FOR MAC-USERS: the SURFER app is notarized, thus please follow these instructions to override your security settings to open it (you will see a warning dialog).