It is probably a coincidence that the three main terms discussed in this book, namely transformations, projections,and perspective, are ambiguous. Here is what the dict- nary has to say about these terms. Transformation (a) The act or an instance of transforming. (b) The state of being transformed. A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better. Mathematical transformation. (a) Replacing a variable in an expression by its value. (b) Mapping a mathematical space onto another or onto itself. In geometry. Moving, rotating, re?ecting, or otherwise systematically deforming a geometric ?gure (discussed in this book). In linguistics. (a) A rule to convert a syntactic form into another. (b) A sentence or sentential form derived by such a rule; a transform. In genetics. (a) The change undergone by a cell upon infection by a cancer-causing virus. (b) The alteration of a bacterial cell caused by the transfer of DNA from another bacterial cell, especially a pathogen. Projection The act of projecting or the condition of being projected. (a) An object or part thereof that extends outward. (b) Spiky projections on top of a fence. (c) A projection of land along the coast. A prediction or an estimate of a future situation, based on current data or trends. (a) The process of projecting a recorded image onto a viewing surface. (b) An image so projected.

From the contents Transformations.- Introduction.- Two-Dimensional Transformations.- Three-Dimensional Coordinate Systems.- Three-Dimensional Transformations.- Transforming the Coordinate System.- Parallel Projections.- Orthographic Projections.- Axonometric Projections.- Oblique Projections.- Perspective Projection.- One Two Three... Infinity.- History of Perspective.- Perspective in Curved Objects.- The Mathematics of Perspective.- General Perspective.- Transforming The Object.- Viewer At An Arbitrary Location.- Coordinate-Free Approach.- The Viewing Volume.- Stereoscopic Images.- Creating a Stereoscopic Image.- Viewing a Stereoscopic Image.- Nonlinear Projections.- False Perspective.-Fisheye Projection.-Circle Inversion.- Panoramic Projections.- Cylindrical Panoramic Projection.- Spherical Panoramic Projection.- Cubic Panoramic Projection.- Six-Point Perspective.- Other Panoramic Projections.- Panoramic Cameras.- Telescopic Projection.- Microscopic Projection.- Anamorphosis.- Map Projections.