Perlin Noise

Perlin noise, the brainchild of Ken Perlin. Created in 1997, and further refined in 2002, it is a procedural algorithm for adding noise into textures, sound systems, and models, in such a way as to make them seem more natural.

A random generator of sorts, it has a knack for creating an extremely natural feel.

It is useful for making things appear fractal, with varying levels of detail, yet without the necessity of manually creating such. Perlin noise lends itself extremely well to natural formations, flowing chaotically but within a constrained pattern. It is commonly used for fire, smoke, and clouds, as well as natural mountain ranges, and roiling hills.

Although Perlin noise patterns look random, they are not. This is important to realise because you actually need to be able to generate the same pattern more than once. This makes them easy to animate smoothly as well, by gradually changing the seed numbers over time.

In fact it is so useful, that the algorithm is increasingly finding its way onto GPU chipsets, for hardware rendering.

Below, we offer a selection of links from our resource databases which may match this term.

Perlin Noise Simplex Noise

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Why Recoil at Unpleasant Noise Occurs
Nails on a blackboard. It is an unbearable noise, one that sends shivers through anyone who hears it. But why does it do this, and more importantly, how can a virtual environment replicate the effect in any sound?

iPhone Based Hearing Aids
A novel and very practical use for an iPhone as an auxiliary hearing aid has been developed. The soundAMP program takes control of the iPhone, and essentially uses the in-built microphone to boost ambient noise levels.

Combating Noise and Distortion When Linking Aircraft to the wider Sensor Net
Commercial aircraft are a problem when it comes to linking them to the wider sensor net - all external electronic communication flows through a single part of the nose of the plane. This must be precision manufactured to be defect-free, or moisture and heat can tear the signal apart. How then, do you guarantee it is defect-free?

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