RealLife: the continuum limit of Larger Than Life cellular automata

Let A:={0,1}. A `cellular automaton' (CA) is a shift-commuting transformation of A^{Z^D} determined by a local rule. Likewise, a `Euclidean automaton' is a shift-commuting transformation of A^{R^D} determined by a local rule. `Larger than Life' (LtL) CA are long-range generalizations of J.H. Conway's Game of Life CA, proposed by K.M. Evans. We prove a conjecture of Evans: as their radius grows to infinity, LtL CA converge to a `continuum limit' Euclidean automaton, which we call `RealLife'. We also show that the `life forms' (fixed points, periodic orbits, and propagating structures) of LtL CA converge to life forms of RealLife. Finally we prove a number of existence results for fixed points of RealLife.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures. Final Versio

The Crescent Student Newspaper, March 14, 2016

Student newspaper of George Fox University.https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/the_crescent/2475/thumbnail.jp

Social interactions in massively multiplayer online role-playing gamers

To date, most research into massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) has examined the demographics of play. This study explored the social interactions that occur both within and outside of MMORPGs. The sample consisted of 912 self-selected MMORPG players from 45 countries. MMORPGs were found to be highly socially interactive environments providing the opportunity to create strong friendships and emotional relationships. The study demonstrated that the social interactions in online gaming form a considerable element in the enjoyment of playing. The study showed MMORPGs can be extremely social games, with high percentages of gamers making life-long friends and partners. It was concluded that virtual gaming may allow players to express themselves in ways they may not feel comfortable doing in real life because of their appearance, gender, sexuality, and/or age. MMORPGs also offer a place where teamwork, encouragement, and fun can be experienced

Lenia and Expanded Universe

We report experimental extensions of Lenia, a continuous cellular automata family capable of producing lifelike self-organizing autonomous patterns. The rule of Lenia was generalized into higher dimensions, multiple kernels, and multiple channels. The final architecture approaches what can be seen as a recurrent convolutional neural network. Using semi-automatic search e.g. genetic algorithm, we discovered new phenomena like polyhedral symmetries, individuality, self-replication, emission, growth by ingestion, and saw the emergence of "virtual eukaryotes" that possess internal division of labor and type differentiation. We discuss the results in the contexts of biology, artificial life, and artificial intelligence.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 1 table; submitted to ALIFE 2020 conferenc

Review of: Daniel M. Kammen & David M. Hassenzahl, Should We Risk It: Exploring Environmental, Health, and Technological Problem Solving

A review of the book Should We Risk It: Exploring Environmental, Health, and Technological Problem Solving by Daniel M. Kammen & David M. Hassenzahl, (Princeton University Press 1999). Preface, acknowledgments, introduction, appendix, index. ISBN: 0-691-00426-9 [404 pp. $39.50. Cloth, 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540]