The role of oblivion, memory size and spatial separation in dynamic language games

In this paper we present some multiagent simulations in which the individuals try to reach a uniform vocabulary to name spatial movements. Each agent has initially a random vocabulary that can be modified by means of interactions with the other agents. As the objective is to name movements, the topic of conversation is chosen by moving. Each agent can remember a finite number of words per movement, with certain strength. We show the importance of the forgetting process and memory size in these simulations, discuss the effect of the number of agents on the time to agree and present a few experiments where the evolution of vocabularies takes place in a divided range.This paper has been sponsored by the Spanish Interdepartmental Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), project numbers TEL1999-0181, and TIC 2001-0685-C02-01

Multi-Agents Systems and Territory: Concepts, Methods and Applications

This paper analyses the multi-agents systems that are now considered the best tool to simulate and study real world. We review the main characteristics of a multi-agents system, namely interactions and cooperations of agents, communications and behaviours between them and finally the schedule of actions and jobs assignment to agents. The multi-agents system approach is increasingly applied in social and economic sciences; so we study mainly the territorial applications. In these applications new characteristics arise from the consideration of territory (land and space where the agents live or territory as an agent in itself, that evolves in the time). We study possible new applications of multi-agents applied to the territory (for instance, to define town planning policies or to locate dangerous facilities). Furthermore we study new tools to make operational multi-agents systems (mainly Swarm, the toolkit of Santa Fe Institute). With Swarm we present two kind of territorial applications: with located agents (fixed in space) and with not located agents (moving in the space). Finally we show the results of these applications.

Playing With A Career in Ruins : game Design and Virtual Heritage

L'article esboça les diferències entre contextos virtuals convencionals i jocs de computadora, i discuteix que els punts forts específics i debilitats en l'ús de jocs d'ordinador per crear reconstruccions arqueològiques exigeixen una reflexió curosa i ben orientada. Aquests límits inclouen el problema de l'aprenentatge procedimental vs. el prescriptiu, el pensament conceptual, la càrrega cognitiva, la interacció no violenta i l'autenticitat històrica. Es proposen de forma breu possibles solucions que inclouen el desenvolupament de gèneres de jocs de rol, incorporant bioretroalimentació, l'adopció de límits difosos i de localització indeterminable, al·ludint a les creences culturals diferents per mitjà de la física basada en àmbits, i en l'ús de tècniques de joc d'estil detectivesc per ajudar a transmetre coneixements.El siguiente artículo traza las diferencias entre contextos virtuales convencionales y juegos de computador, y discute que los específicos puntos fuertes y debilidades en la utilización de juegos de computador para crear reconstrucciones arqueológicas exigen una reflexión cuidadosa y bien orientada. Estas limitaciones incluyen el problema del aprendizaje procedimental versus el aprendizaje prescriptivo, el pensamiento conceptual, la carga cognitiva, la interacción no violenta y la autenticidad histórica. Se proponen de forma breve posibles soluciones que incluyen el desarrollo de géneros de juegos de rol, incorporando bioretroalimentación, la adopción de límites difusos y de localización indeterminable, aludiendo a las diferentes creencias culturales por medio de la física basada en ámbitos, y el empleo de técnicas de juego de estilo detectivesco para ayudar a transmitir conocimientos prescriptivos (tal como se transmiten en los textos arqueológicos) a una audiencia más amplia.The following paper outlines differences between conventional virtual environments and computer games, and argues the particular strengths and weaknesses of using computer games for creating archaeological reconstructions need to carefully thought out and addressed. Limitations include the problem of procedural versus prescriptive learning, conceptual thinking, cognitive loading, non-violent interaction, and historical authenticity. Several possible solutions are briefly outlined, which include developing role-playing genres, incorporating biofeedback, adopting vague and indeterminable place-like boundaries, alluding to different cultural beliefs through realm-based physics, and emplying detective-style game techniques to help convey prescriptive knowledge (such as conveyed in archaeological texts) to a wider audience

Investigating social interaction strategies for bootstrapping lexicon development

This paper investigates how different modes of social interactions influence the bootstrapping and evolution of lexicons. This is done by comparing three language game models that differ in the type of social interactions they use. The simulations show that the language games which use either joint attention or corrective feedback as a source of contextual input are better capable of bootstrapping a lexicon than the game without such directed interactions. The simulation of the latter game, however, does show that it is possible to develop a lexicon without using directed input when the lexicon is transmitted from generation to generation

Space and place as expressive categories in videogames

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis sets out to explore some of the ways in which videogames use space as a means of expression. This expression takes place in two registers: representation and embodiment. Representation is understood as a form of expression in which messages and ideas are communicated. Embodiment is understood as a form of expression in which the player is encouraged to take up a particular position in relation to the game. This distinction between representation and embodiment is useful analytically but the thesis attempts to synthesise these modes in order to account for the experience of playing videogames, where representation and embodiment are constantly happening and constantly influencing and shaping each other. Several methods are developed to analyse games in a way that brings these two modes to the fore. The thesis attempts to arrive at a number of spatial aesthetics of videogames by adapting methods from game studies, literary criticism, phenomenology, onomastics (the study of names), cartographic theory, choreography and architectural and urban formation analysis

A Survey of Agent-Based Modeling Practices (January 1998 to July 2008)

In the 1990s, Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) began gaining popularity and represents a departure from the more classical simulation approaches. This departure, its recent development and its increasing application by non-traditional simulation disciplines indicates the need to continuously assess the current state of ABM and identify opportunities for improvement. To begin to satisfy this need, we surveyed and collected data from 279 articles from 92 unique publication outlets in which the authors had constructed and analyzed an agent-based model. From this large data set we establish the current practice of ABM in terms of year of publication, field of study, simulation software used, purpose of the simulation, acceptable validation criteria, validation techniques and complete description of the simulation. Based on the current practice we discuss six improvements needed to advance ABM as an analysis tool. These improvements include the development of ABM specific tools that are independent of software, the development of ABM as an independent discipline with a common language that extends across domains, the establishment of expectations for ABM that match their intended purposes, the requirement of complete descriptions of the simulation so others can independently replicate the results, the requirement that all models be completely validated and the development and application of statistical and non-statistical validation techniques specifically for ABM.Agent-Based Modeling, Survey, Current Practices, Simulation Validation, Simulation Purpose

The pornographical: a mimetic ethics of bodies

This thesis is situated across the fields of contemporary political philosophy, critical theory and feminist/gender studies. It argues that the notion of an ‘ana-aesthetic’ is required in order to provide a fuller sense of the conceptual nuances regarding pornography. The ‘ana-aesthetic’ is suggested as the ground and surface economy for this ‘unsayable something’ that is so much a part of the everyday common senses of contemporary life and art. Distinct from the ‘anti-aesthetic’, the ‘ana-aesthetic’ utilises a discursive methodology, and in sidestepping the usual moral entanglements found in attempts to analyse sexually explicit and often misogynistic pornographies, this thesis shows how the ‘ana-aesthetic’ surface of ‘the pornographical’ generates a mimetic and bodily ethics. ‘The pornographical’ is discussed in terms of its techne of comic humour, as a way of creating substance without lapsing into abyssal logics of lack; and the manner in which sexual meaning of fantasy is pleasurable, forming compressed data. The comic is suggested as something found, a cultural ‘ready-made’ gesture, of pleasure, produced through an economic expenditure of ideational mimetics (upon cathexis). This thesis suggests that through the comic, ‘the pornographical’ creates mimetic economies of witnessing. ‘The pornographical’ occupies a strange cultural position in its relationship to both the body and to technology. It is this relationship that gives ‘the pornographical’ its paradoxical ‘ana-linguistic’/’a-radical’ (without a ‘root’) structure, that generates a way of thinking that is related to and also embodies and mediates the body, without positing sexuality as an essentialism

Space and place as expressive categories in videogames

This thesis sets out to explore some of the ways in which videogames use space as a means of expression. This expression takes place in two registers: representation and embodiment. Representation is understood as a form of expression in which messages and ideas are communicated. Embodiment is understood as a form of expression in which the player is encouraged to take up a particular position in relation to the game. This distinction between representation and embodiment is useful analytically but the thesis attempts to synthesise these modes in order to account for the experience of playing videogames, where representation and embodiment are constantly happening and constantly influencing and shaping each other. Several methods are developed to analyse games in a way that brings these two modes to the fore. The thesis attempts to arrive at a number of spatial aesthetics of videogames by adapting methods from game studies, literary criticism, phenomenology, onomastics (the study of names), cartographic theory, choreography and architectural and urban formation analysis.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo