[dexwiz]

Displaying a a function with changing values, instead of a static one, does change how you process the information. This gives an advantage to computer screens over chalkboards.

I am not sure about the implementation. The author seems new to webdesign. He spends 2 paragraphs explaining how he made the image changes, hint, he used a looped gif. Then he has an idea of an "after image" but then admits he cannot do it. The numbers dancing around at the end is hard to digest. It's clear that one is not moving, but that is about it.

In the comments Rahul posts a graph where circles are plotted and fade over time with random inputs. He then plots various functions where the grouping is obvious and easily digestible.

Overall it looks like a great collaboration. Someone having an design idea but incapable of executing, and something else doing a better technical implementation. While the idea is completely unoriginal, its still a fun story.

[laingc]

I'd just like to draw attention to this comment:

> The author seems new to webdesign.

The author of the post is Terry Tao, one of the greatest living mathematicians and recipient of the Fields medal.

I imagine that he may indeed be somewhat new to web design, however I doubt that learning it is high on his list of priorities.

EDIT: No snark intended here, by the way. I thought the context of who Tao is was important.

[kmm]

The mathematician in me is somewhat relieved to see there are some things I'm better at than Terry Tao :)

[Bromskloss]

I see. You mean mathematics and web design.

[goldenkey]

Considering he now has two jobs, 1) to be an actual mathematician, and 2) to fulfill his "popular" role, I'd say that this post was rather trivial except for the last line. Even two entirely random distributions, can be correlated 100%, such that some function of both of them is entirely static/constant. I'm not sure why you are defending what is indefensible. His accolades aren't some unpierceable armor for everything he does. But I'm not trying to be snark either. I do agree, the truths that he can uncover are a lot more important than any popularity pandering.