Artificial Life Models in Software [Hardcover]

Andrew Adamatzky (Editor), Maciej Komosinski (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1852339454 | ISBN-13: 978-1852339456 | Publication Date: July 22, 2005 | Edition: 1

This book presents software tools, environments and realities dealing with creation, imitation and analysis of artefactual, virtual, and living forms, written by those who personally design and produce software, hardware, and art installations in artificial life, simulated complex systems, and virtual worlds. This timely volume offers a nearly exhaustive overview and original analysis of major non-profit artificial life software packages. Topics include: simulation of real and imaginary life forms and their evolution self-organization emergent behaviours swarm intelligence evolutionary robotics agent-based simulations adaptive, complex and biologically inspired ecosystems creative computer art There has long been a need within the academic and research community for an informal introduction and guidance to modern software tools for modeling and simulation of life-like phenomena – this book fills this gap and offers detailed reviews of contemporary software for artificial life for both professionals and amateurs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"Artificial Life Models in software is a unique book that showcases a variety of freely available software for artificial life simulations. a ] It will be valuable for many related to artificial life, especially as an introductory reading for students a ] . It will also be a nice informative reference for professional researchers and educators. a ] I would like to recommend Artificial life models in software to whoever is interested in artificial life a ] ." (Hiroki Sayama, Artificial Life, Issue 13, 2007)

From the Back Cover

Artificial Life Models in Software provides an introduction and guide to modern software tools for modeling and simulating life-like phenomena, written by those who personally design and develop software, hardware, and art installations in artificial life, simulated complex systems and virtual worlds. This timely volume offers a nearly exhaustive overview and original analysis of major non-profit software packages that are actively developed and supported by experts in artificial life and software design. The carefully selected topics include: • simulation and evolution of real and artificial life forms, • natural and artificial morphogenesis, • self-organization, • models of communication and social behaviors, • emergent collective behaviors and swarm intelligence, • agent-based simulations, • autonomous and evolutionary robotics, • adaptive, complex and biologically inspired ecosystems, • artificial chemistries, • creative computer art. The models of life presented here are essential components in undergraduate and post-graduate courses in complex adaptive systems, multi-agent systems, collective robotics and nature-inspired computing. Readers interested in artificial life, evolutionary biology, simulation, cybernetics, computer graphics and animation, neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy will find this monograph a valuable guide and an excellent resource for supplementary reading. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (July 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852339454
• ISBN-13: 978-1852339456
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,404,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Artificial Intelligence > Artificial Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a sequel to the Game of Life, April 24, 2007

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Artificial Life Models in Software (Hardcover)

Remember Conway's Game of Life? Surely you must, if you are interested in this book. The Game has been around since the 70s. The editors have cultivated recent research papers that demonstrate how far the field has advanced. Reinforced by some pretty colour plates that depict artificial entities [dare we call them living?] in some surroundings. These include the modelling of bee flights through a garden, and simulated trajectories of a group of bacteria.

Nor is the Game of Life ignored. One plate shows it in three dimensions. The Game is played in 2 dimensions, with time as the third dimension. An obvious choice that gives interesting trajectories of the cells.

The narrative adds to the illustrations. By describing a variety of computer simulations [worlds?]. Where the experimenter can tweak many parameters, and watch her world unfold. Some worlds are impressively rich in complexity of observed behaviours.

The only drawback in the book is its skimpy index. A mere two pages. It should have been more detailed.