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We discuss the dynamics of a class of non-ergodic piecewise affine maps of the torus. These maps exhibit highly complex and little understood behavior. We present computer graphics of some examples and analyses of some with a decreasing degree of completeness. For the best understood example, we show that the torus splits into three invariant sets on which the dynamics are quite different. These are: the orbit of the discontinuity set, the complement of this set in its closure, and the complement of the closure. There are still some unsolved problems concerning the orbit of the discontinuity set. However we do know that there are intervals of periodic orbits and at least one infinite orbit. The map on the second invariant set is minimal and uniquely ergodic. The third invariant set is one of full Lebesgue measure and consists of a countable number of open octagons whose points are periodic. Their orbits can be described in terms of a symbolism obtained from an equal length substitution rule or the triadic odometer.

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To study a geometric model of the human spine we are led to finding a constrained minimum of a real valued function defined on a product of special orthogonal groups. To take advantge of its Lie group structure we consider Newton's method on this manifold. Comparisons between measured spines and computed spines show the pertinence of this approach.