The
computer-scientist Benoit Mandelbrot
introduced the word "fractal", in the year 1975
to
describe irregular, not smooth, curves. Fractal geometry in general has become
more and more popular since Benoit Mandelbrot’s book “The Fractal Geometry of
Nature ” was published for the first time in 1977 and the “Mandelbrot set” was
defined in the year 1980. Since that time many of those computer-pictures and
"monster curves", as Benoit Mandelbrot called curves with unusual
characteristics such as the Koch curve, have been published - some of them will
be introduced in chapter “3 Different Fractals”. They were mostly created with
a mathematical background, but they can also be found in art because of their
beautiful interesting appearance . In the eighties of the 20th century the
“Mandelbrot set” could be found in many scientific journals last but not least
because of its beauty - this kind of visualizing was, however, only made
possible by the quick development of the computer. Subsequently today it is no
problem for any of us to produce classical and natural looking fractals quickly
and easily on the computer at home. Of course it is dangerous to think that we
know enough about fractal geometry and the mathematical background so that we
can start to use this "new" geometry in every field of our life. But,
are we not now - with all the background of our society - in a position where
we can deal with all the questions arising from the use of these new scientific
theories and is this not more important than putting all the priority on
finding the final result at the moment.