Chaos in Discrete Dynamical Systems covers topics in chaos theory, bifurcations and critical curves in a visual, 2-dimensional context. This unique publication is the culmination of a three-year experiment in electronic publishing. As such, it is a package comprised of three carefully intertwined components: a printed book, a cross-platform CD-ROM and a website.

The extensively illustrated book is the primary component. The CD-ROM is mainly devoted to presenting 12 computer graphic animations in full color, all tied directly into the content of the book. The user interface to the CD-ROM is made in the style of the world wide web. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with the web site dedicated to this project. This site is maintained by the Visual Math Institute, UC Santa Cruz: http://www.vismath.org/chaos.

Motivation for this ambitious package is the conviction that this style of electronic publishing is the ideal medium for mathematical communication. This is especially true for the branch of mathematics known as dynamical systems theory. The essence of this communicative style is the dynapic technique, in which a drawing is developed stroke-by-stroke, along with a carefully coordinated spoken commentary. This is the traditional method used by most mathematicians when speaking among themselves.

Visual Math!