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generative (graphics)
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Originating from modern linguistics (with roots in ancient difference dynamis/energia, actus/potentia)
the term here means a graphical representation,
which is not a 'picture' itself, but something like a grammar of possible pictures.
'Generative graphics' are topic of visual arts, 'informational esthetics' and other efforts since mid of the 60's.
A wellknown german source is nees_1969.
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geographic location
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The common civil notation of a geographic position is measured from Greenwich in [degrees],
as 'Width' (positive to the North), 'Length' (positive to the East)
- f.e. : Berlin = 52.51 ° North, 13.41 ° East
= (+ 52.51 °, + 13.41 °).
The values for your location can be found in public tables (www) or by using a measured globe.
Standard-notation for moons.de is :
(14.40,-17.26) or (14.40N,17.26W)
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interface
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A (logical and physical, artificial) location where something is meeting something different.
Often the term is used in technological context,
but its original sense is a logical, visual, semiotical one:
each 'symbol' is an interface, or can be regarded as, with good results:
a place where something is 'thrown together' (sym-ballein).
'Inter-face' (the look-between) emphasizes the artificial character of this meeting.
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At moons.de we're
a) playing with a low-level semiotic confrontation of the 'natural' and 'artificial' aspect
and
b) calling 'interface' the (defined) locations where this confrontation takes part.
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parameter
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Variable entity which is influencing (but not modelling) something
(here: the generation of a graphic representation).
Parameters require metric dimensions, but can be of different semantics:
physically referring (like 'geographic position')
or esthetically defining (like desired 'color');
they take values (like '200')
of a certain dimension (like 'pixel')
within a given range (like '[0 ... 400]').
The value may be fixed (internally, within a generative model, defining its quality)
or choosable (externally, by user-interface, http-request or other ways).
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External parameters used in moons.de's interfaces are for example :
color, geographic position,
date, time zone.
Standard-notation of a http-request with parameters is :
http://url?param1=value1¶m2=value2 .. ¶m_n=value_n
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phase
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Actual view of the moon's (gradual) illumination, as to be seen - potentially - from the earth -
the most common aspect of the moon, appearing as a sign for the current position in the lunar period.
Orientation depends on geographic location.
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semiotics
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The theory of signs, lexically spoken.
More actual : a modern (universal) way of dealing with representations;
in a semiotical sense the difference between 'theory' and 'practical' things is of no substance.
Each 'theory' is nothing but a kind of view - mediated by the use of signs.
To our opinion, this semiotical approach (taken seriously) is extraordinary fruitful,
but usually a bit too narrow; a more general theory of representation(s) could perhaps solve this problem -
if we only had one ...
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time zone
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The civil system of 'Timezones' cares for showing a local clock about '12.00' when the sun is high,
somewhere on earth.
Bound to the system of geographic positions,
reference is GMT = 'Greenwich Mean Time' = 'Universal Time',
supposed to be the time at geogr. length = 0, no daylight-savings respected.
Standard-notation used in moons.de is
(14.40,-17.26) or (14.40N,17.26W)
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transparency
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For definition of colors we use the common hexadecimal
RGB-notation
(RR
GG
BB),
with the extension of 2 digits (TT) for transparency, values from 00 (= opak) to FF (fully transparent):
RR
GG
BB
TT.
As transparency this time is only rudimentary supported by common browsers,
you can note TT = 00 for full transparency - and leave the two letters for fully opaque colors.
Simply type : color = 00000000 if you want a color to be transparent / unvisible / identical with background.
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