Applications of Ray Tracing
Thus, you might ask, just what practical utilizes does ray tracing have:
a) For vision research, simulation of real-world phenomena,
b) Medical for radiation treatment planning,
c) Seismic for density calculations along a ray,
d) Mechanical engineering for interference checking,
e) Plant design for pipeline interference checking,
f) Hit-testing in geometric applications and impact and penetration studies.
g) Commonly used in entertainment.
This topic discussed has for only scratched the surface of the topic of ray tracing. As well to the primitive characteristics of reflection, shadows and transparency most ray tracers nowadays support various texture mapping options, motion blur, focal blur and radiosity, a host of the other advanced characteristics.