Fractal images provide an interesting way of storing an acceptable likeness of an image using a small amount of data. Compression much better than JPEG or GIF is usually achieved. Unfortunately the compression technology is proprietary however decompression appears not to be. The widespread use of this form of image storage and transmission could drastically reduce the communications overheads associated with the World Wide Web.

The project involves investigation of fractal image techniques with a view to developing a fractal image renderer under the X-windows environment and making it available as a “helper” application for Netscape and other browsers.